The viscosities of some lead-antimony and lead-antimony-tin alloys

Abstract

The viscosities of some Pb-Sb alloys up to 10.8% Sb and Pb-Sb-Sn alloys up to 10% Sb and 10% Sn have been determined to an accuracy of ± 0.5% by an absolute method applied to an oscillational viscosimeter. Andrade's equation ηv ^½ = A exp C/vT has been used to describe the viscosity-temperature relationships, and values for the constants A and C are given. For Pb-Sb alloys, isothermal viscosities at 350 °C and 550 °C vary linearly with composition demonstrating ideal mixing. Using earlier data on Pb-Sn alloys, it is possible to demonstrate that the ternary alloys also show ideal solution behaviour over the composition range studied. Some brief comment is given on the state of reliable knowledge of alloy viscosities. It is concluded that much work remains to be done using tractable, accurate mathematical analyses for absolute viscosity measurements.