Isothermal Mass Transfer in Liquid Metals

Abstract

A survey of pairs of metals in liquid bismuth, lead and tin has shown that isothermal mass transfer with the formation of an alloy layer on an insoluble metal occurs in the systems: Al → Mo, Al → Fe, Ni → Fe, Co → Fe, Al → Cr, Co → Nb, Co → Ta in liquid bismuth; Al → Mo, Zn → Fe, Al → Fe, Ni → Fe in liquid lead; and Al → Mo in liquid tin at 500°C. Although transfer is expected when compounds or solid solutions exist between the pairs, it has only been found with a minority of systems. Factors affecting the phenomenon are discussed.