Ordering and recovery processes in the Ni/Fe system near Ni3Fe

The ordering and recovery processes in 72/28 and 80/20 at.% Ni/Fe alloys have been investigated. A parameter related to the thermal scattering contribution of the electrical resistivity was used to follow the establishment of atomic order. It was found that the initial condition of the alloys — quenched or cold-worked — has little influence on the ordering kinetics at high temperatures. However, it greatly influences the recovery behaviour, as indicated by the residual resistivity measurements. Strain-ageing effects reported earlier are interpreted in the light of the present findings. Results are also discussed on the basis of existing theories for atomic ordering.