Volume changes in HgTe upon melting and heating

Data on volumetric changes of HgTe during melting and heating the melt were obtained by means of the gamma-ray attenuation technique. Negative volumetric effect has been established upon HgTe melting. The baric coefficient value of melting temperature dT/dP calculated by the Clapeyron-Clausius equation is compared with the same value obtained on the (p-T) diagram of the Hg-Te system. The dependence density versus on temperature for liquid HgTe increases from its melting point at 943 K to maximum value at 1023 K and than normal thermal expansion established. These anomalous changes of density in liquid HgTe could be explained on the basis of the "after-melting" effect and fully described in terms of the ideal associated solution model assuming HgTe and Hg2Te3 associates