Surface and transport properties of In–Sn liquid alloys

The thermodynamic properties of liquid In–Sn alloys indicate a weak interactions between unlike atoms. The new In, Sn and In–Sn surface tension experimental data set obtained by the large-drop method over the temperature range 523–923 K together with the literature data on different thermophysical properties substantiate a nearly ideal mixing behaviour of these alloys. A low interaction energies do not effect the composition dependence of thermophysical properties, in particular the surface tension and the surface segregation. In order to estimate the effects of the short-range order phenomenon on the surface properties of In–Sn liquids, the QCA (quasi chemical approximation) for the regular solution model and the CFM (compound formation model) have been applied. In the same framework the transport properties and the structural characteristics of liquid In–Sn alloys have also been analysed.