Some physico-chemical properties of liquid Ag-Sn-Zn

The mean square concentration fluctuations in the long wavelength limit, the surface tension, the segregation behavior and the viscosity of the liquid system Ag-Sn-Zn are calculated in a semi-empirical manner based on experimental thermodynamic data. The increased intensity of fluctuations in the concentration of Sn extending over an wide range of composition is the dominant feature of the system. In a likewise manner, the tendency of segregation into the surface layer is observed to be most noticeable for Sn-atoms. As a consequence, even at massive additions of Ag or Zn up to 60 at% the surface tension is expected not to exceed the value of pure Sn by more than 15%. The viscosities are indicated to increase markedly but in a non-linear manner with the content of Ag. The excess viscosity is found to be negative throughout the system being more pronounced on the Ag-Sn side than on the Ag-Zn or the Sn-Zn side of the system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.