Electrical conductivity of ZrCl4 solutions in molten LiCl, NaCl–KCl (1:1) and HfCl4 solutions in molten KCl

Abstract

Abstract The electrical conductivity of LiCl–ZrCl4, NaCl–KCl (1:1)–ZrCl4 and KCl–HfCl4 molten mixtures has been studied for the first time as a function of temperature (770–1100 K) and the concentrations of ZrCl4 (0–25 mol%) or HfCl4 (0–30 mol%). A conductometric cell of an original construction has been used. The electrical conductivity of these mixtures ranges from 0.9 to 3.1 S/cm. The increase in the temperature results in the increase in the electrical conductivity, whereas the increase in the ZrCl4 or HfCl4 concentration results in its decrease. The obtained results on the electrical conductivity of MCl–ZrCl4 (M – alkali metals) melts are summarized, taking into account our previous measurements, and discussed on the basis of the available data on the structure of such melts.