Non-contact measurements of surface tension and viscosity of niobium, zirconium, and titanium using an electrostatic levitation furnace

Abstract

The surface tension and viscosity of liquid niobium, zirconium, and titanium have been determined by the oscillation drop technique using a vacuum electrostatic levitation furnace. These properties are reported over wide temperature ranges, covering both superheated and undercooled liquid. For niobium, the surface tension can be expressed as σ(T)=1.937×103−0.199(T−T m) (mN·m−1) with T m=2742 K and the viscosity as η(T)=4.50−5.62×10−3(T−T m) (mPa·s), over the 2320 to 2915 K temperature range. Similarly, over the 1800 to 2400 K temperature range, the surface tension of zirconium is represented as σ(T)=1.500×103−0.111(T−T m) (mN·m−1) and the viscosity as η(T)=4.74−4.97 ×10−3(T−T m) (mPa·s) where T m=2128 K. For titanium (T m=1943 K), these properties can be expressed, respectively, as σ(T)=1.557×103−0.156(T−T m) (mN·m−1) and η(T)=4.42−6.67×10−3(T−T m) (mPa·s) over the temperature range of 1750 to 2050 K.