A study of the reaction kinetics for the formation of rare earth-transition metal laves compounds

The kinetics of the reaction A_(s) + 2B (s) =AB _2(s) was studied by differential thermal analy sis. TheA component was Pr, Gd, Dy or Er, theB was Fe, Co, or Ni and the resultingAB ₂ compound was a MgCu₂ Laves intermetallic compound. A generalized search method to de termine the reaction mechanism was developed and applied to the above reactions. The re actions were found to be diffusion controlled and the kinetics best described by the Valensi-Carter equation.