Experimental determination of solid-liquid interfacial energy for solid Cd in Bi-Cd liquid solutions

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for the solid Cd in Bi-Cd liquid solutions were directly observed. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs-Thomson coefficient for solid Cd (Cd-0.03 at.% Bi) in Bi-Cd liquid solutions has been determined to be (8.28 +/- 0.33) x 10(-s) K m with a numerical method. The solid-liquid interfacial energy between solid Cd and Bi-Cd liquid solution has been obtained to be (81.22 +/- 7.31) x 10(-3) J m(-2) from the Gibbs-Thomson equation. The grain boundary energy for the same material has been calculated to be ( 154.32 +/- 18.52) x 10(-3) J m(-2) from the observed grain boundary groove shapes. The thermal conductivities of the solid and liquid phases for Bi-54.6 at.% Cd system have also been measured. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved