Thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of Cu-Si liquid alloys

Abstract

The Cu-Si system is of primary interest for many industrial applications, especially for waste applications. Due to eutectic reactions and the con- gruent melting of intermetallic phases, these binary alloys exhibit specific behaviors as a function of temperature and composition. A complete investigation of the thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of such liquid metals that may form is required to optimize such a process at the industrial scale. To better predict the thermophysical properties of these metallic alloys, measurements of the surface tension are carried out for bulk mole frac- tions of up to 32% at Si. These experiments were conducted by means of the oscillating drop technique using the electromagnetic levitation method [1]. To better predict the thermodynamics of such liquids during the experiments, these tests were complemented by chemical activity cal- culations using the Calphad method. The experimental results obtained from the electromagnetic technique are compared and discussed taking into consideration the Egry model [2], the most suitable one in case of formation of high-temperature intermetal- lic compounds.