Structure of Glass-Forming Halides. II. Liquid Zinc Chloride

Abstract

Measurements of viscosity and electric conductivity in liquid zinc chloride indicate that at temperatures near the melting point, the melt is associated. The degree of association diminishes rapidly with increasing temperature as shown by the decreasing energies of activation for both viscous flow and conduction. Liquid ZnCl2 is thus not a normal fused salt such as CdCl2 or MgCl2. From the crystal structure and Raman absorption spectra, a mechanism of fusion and the structure of the melt are postulated. The ease of glass formation is discussed in terms of the liquid structure.