Grain boundary segregation in Ni and binary Ni alloys doped with sulfur

The kinetics and temperature dependence of sulfur segregation in Ni and binary alloys of Ni with Cu, Al, Cr, Mo, W, and Hf, all containing between 70 and 100 atomic ppm sulfur, have been measured using Auger spectroscopy over the temperature range 500 to 1000 °C. No evidence for cosegregation of these alloying elements with sulfur is found. The alloying elements do influence the precipitation of sulfides, however, and this influences the amount of segregation which occurs. Comparison with theoretical models of grain boundary segregation allows the sulfur solubility in the various alloys to be determined.