AbstractThe evolution of concentrations in multicomponent diffusion depends on a characteristic parameter Δ constructed in terms of the diffusion coefficientsDik. For ternary diffusion Δ = (D22 D11)2+ + 4D12D21whereD12D21can have both signs. In the case Δ>0 one gets the normal monotonous evolution of concentrations, Δ<0 leads to damped oscillations, at Δ = 0 there appear maxima and minima of concentrations for some valu