Interdiffusion in liquid tin

The interdiffusion coefficients of Zn, Ag, Sb, Pb, and Bi in liquid Sn were determined using both shear cell and long capillary techniques. These elements were chosen to provide a range of valences and atomic radii, variables that are expected to affect the interdiffusion coefficients. The results indicate that Sb and Ag diffuse in liquid Sn at the same rate as does Sn itself. Bi and Pb appear to diffuse more slowly in liquid Sn than does Sn. Zn appears to diffuse more rapidly in liquid Sn than does Sn itself. These results indicate that the atomic radius is an important variable for interdiffusion in liquid Sn. However, the results for the interdiffusion of Zn, Pb, and Bi, were more scattered than those for Ag and Sb, suggesting that some convective mixing, due possibly to transverse temperature gradients, may be occurring even in capillaries with only 1.5 nun diameters.