Sublimation rates In vacuo of PbTe and Pb0·5Sn0·5Te thermoelements

Abstract

The sublimation rates of pressed-and-sintered PbTe and Pb_0.5Sn_0.5Te thermoelements were measured over the temperature range 400–600°C. Rates for PbTe varied from 2 × 10⁻² to 175 mg/cm²/hr, and for Pb_0.5Sn_0.5Te from 4 × 10⁻¹ at 450°C to 45 mg/cm²/hr at 600°C, respectively. Calculated values of the vapor pressures of PbTe from these data are in good agreement with previous investigations.