MEASUREMENT OF SURFACE-TENSION AND DENSITY OF LIQUID OXIDES FROM MENISCUS SHAPE

A method to measure surface tension of a liquid was developed from the analyses of the observed static shape of meniscus formed along a vertical cylindrical rod which was dipped in the liquid in a cylindrical crucible. This method enables us to measure surface tension of the liquid in static state for the case where contact angle between the liquid and the rod is smaller than 90 degrees. Simultaneously, the density of the liquid can be also measured from the observed shape of a cylindrical crucible and that of the liquid above the crucible. An apparatus for measuring the surface tension and density with this method was constructed, and it was confirmed to have a high precision and reliability for the measurements in the range from room temperature to 1673 K by using water and liquid B2O3. By using the apparatus, the surface tension and density of FetO-SiO2-Al2O3 slags were precisely determined at 1673 K under an argon atmosphere in a strictly sealed chamber. Thus, this method and apparatus can be widely used to measure precisely the surface tension and density of liquid oxides in the static state and controlled atmospheres.