Viscosity, thermal conductivity, and surface tension of high-temperature melts

Abstract

High-temperature melts are substances which are solids at room temperature and liquids at high temperatures. They include liquid metals, molten salts, and other melts such as molten semiconductor materials. Although they show scientifically interesting behavior and have industrially important characteristics, the thermophysical properties of these substances at high temperature are not sufficiently known due to experimental difficulties. Many melts show strong chemical activity and therefore are corrosive to materials of container and sensors. Applicable sensors are limited also because of the high temperature and the electrical conductivity of melts. In this paper the present status of available data for the viscosity, the thermal conductivity, and the surface tension of high-temperature melts is reviewed. Limited experimental information is available and these properties are difficult to predict theoretically. The transport properties are important for predicting heat transfer and flow patterns. For the prediction of the behavior of melts under microgravity condition, the temperature dependence of the surface tension plays a major role.