Hump phenomenon on resistivity–temperature curve in liquid Bi, Sb and their alloys

Abstract

The electrical resistivities of liquid Bi, Sb, and some of their alloys Pb–Bi, Pb–Sb have been investigated as a function of temperature, and the effect of heating-rate on the turning points of liquid Bi has also been investigated. Obvious and interesting hump phenomena are observed on resistivity–temperature curves of liquid Bi, Sb, and Pb–Bi, Pb–Sb alloys on heating at the temperature far above their liquidus. Moreover, the transition temperature of liquid Bi increases with heating-rate increasing, which shows that this kind of transition is in accordance with kinetic characteristics. However, comparing the heating curve with the cooling one, we found that the anomalous hump phenomenon is irreversible in liquid Bi, Sb, and Pb–Bi, Pb–Sb alloys.

Keywords:

• Liquid Bi
• Sb
• Liquid Pb–Bi, Pb–Sb alloys
• Electrical resistivity
• Hump phenomenon
• PACS
• 72.15. Cz;
• 61.20.-p;
• 61.25.Mv

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant No. 50371024 and No. 50571033, by the key project of Chinese Ministry of Education No. 104106.