Measurement of solid-liquid interfacial energy for solid Zn in the Zn-Cd eutectic system

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for the Zn solid solution in Zn-Cd liquid solutions were directly observed. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs-Thomson coefficient for solid Zn (Zn-15 wt.% Cd) in Zn-Cd liquid solutions has been determined to be (2.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(-8) Km by a direct method. The solid-liquid interfacial energy between solid Zn and Zn-Cd liquid solution has been obtained to be (165.5 +/- 19.0) mJ/m(2) from the Gibbs-Thomson equation. The grain boundary energy for the same alloy has been determined as (317.8 +/- 39.9) mJ/m(2). The thermal conductivities of the solid and liquid phases at the eutectic composition and temperature have also been measured. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All, rights reserved