A New Technique for Measuring the Velocity of Sound in Liquid Metals

Abstract

Since piezoelectric transducers cease to function above 600 °C, velocity of sound measurements become difficult at high temperatures. Many of the difficulties may be circumvented by observing the acoustic waves using the electromagnetic detection technique. This method has been made the basis of an apparatus with which the sound velocity in liquid metals may be measured with an accuracy of 0.1% up to a temperature of 1300 °C. Results for liquid copper and tin are presented, to illustrate the value of the technique.