Surface and transport properties of Ag-Cu liquid alloys

The applicability of quasi-lattice theory (QLT) to describe surface and transport properties of Ag-Cu liquid alloys is substantiated by surface tension experimental data. The surface tension of molten Ag, Cu and Ag-Cu alloys has been measured by the pinned-sessile drop method over a temperature range. The results obtained are in good agreement with other reported measurements on pure elements and their alloys as well as with calculated surface tension values. The phase diagram of Ag-Cu system shows the existence of a simple eutectic indicating a tendency towards phase separation. The mixing behaviour of Ag-Cu regular alloys has been analysed through the study of surface properties (surface tension and surface composition), dynamic properties (chemical diffusion and viscosity) and microscopic functions (concentration fluctuations in the long-wavelength limit and chemical short-range order parameter) in the frame of quasi-lattice theory combined with a statistical mechanical theory.