Thermodynamic investigation of thermophysical properties of thallium-based liquid alloys

ABSTRACT

The mixing behaviour of Cd–Tl, In–Tl and Sn–Tl liquid alloys have been examined using formalism that relates viscosity and chemical diffusion with thermodynamic properties. We found that the atomic interactions in these systems are weak; Cd–Tl has the weakest atomic interactions, while the interactions in Sn–Tl are weaker than in In–Tl. Also, the systems exhibit weak homocoordination tendency; Cd–Tl is the most homocoordinated when C${ }_{\mathrm{T}\mathrm{l}}$$\le 0.6$, while Sn-Tl is the most homocoordinated when C${ }_{\mathrm{T}\mathrm{l}}>0.6$. Additionally, enthalpic and entropic effects significantly influenced the viscosity of Cd–Tl in the entire thallium composition but only influenced the viscosities of In–Tl and Sn–Tl in some thallium compositions. Furthermore, the atomic size difference has the most pronounced effect on the viscosity of Cd–Tl, while it has more effect on the viscosity of In–Tl than on the viscosity of Sn–Tl. This study provides useful insight on the structure and binding in three thallium-based alloys.

KEYWORDS:

• Cd–Tl
• In–Tl
• Sn–Tl
• alloy
• mixing behaviour
• thermophysical

Acknowledgements

The contributions of Mr. Charles Babalola of the Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan towards data collection for the Phase diagrams of Cd–Tl, In–Tl and Sn–Tl are gratefully acknowledged by the author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.