Influence of Zinc on the Surface Tension, Density and Molar Volume of (Ag-Sn)eut +Zn Liquid Alloys

The dilatometric and maximum bubble pressure methods were applied for the measurements of the density and surface tension of liquid (Ag-Sn)_eut +Zn lead-free solders. The experiments were carried out in the temperature range from 515 to 1223 K for the alloys of the zinc concentration equaling 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 of the mole fraction. It was found that the temperature dependence of both the density and the surface tension could be thought as linear, so they were interpreted by straight line equations. The experimental data of the molar volume of the investigated alloys were described by the polynomial dependent on the composition and temperature. Calculations of the surface tension by Butler’s equation were conducted and confronted with the experimental data. Some significant deviations between the experimental and the calculated surface tension were observed. They reached almost 40 mNm-1. The observed changes of the density and surface tension caused by the zinc addition to the Ag-Sn eutectic were discussed with the consideration of the thermodynamic properties and the influence of a small quantity of impurities in a protective gas atmosphere.