The microstructure of Pb–K liquid alloy from small-angle neutron scattering experiments

The microstructure of Pb–K liquid alloy (75 at.% Pb + 25 at.% K) has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) at three temperature values, 660, 700, 730 K, and within the interval of neutron wavevector transfer of 0.006 Å−1 < Q < 0.05 Å−1. For the small Q-values the Guinier region has not been observed. For the intermediate Q-values the experimental results, being represented on a double logarithmic scale, demonstrate a rather long linear plot with a slope α ≈ 3.9 at all the temperatures. The analysis of the scattering intensity with the use of Porod invariant and Porod constant leads to the conclusion that the SANS observed is caused by some internal peculiarities of the liquid alloy microstructure with dimensions of about 1500–2000 Å and possibly with the fractal character.