Electrical Resistivity of Cu–Zr Melts

Abstract

For the first time, the electrical resistivity of liquid Cu_64.5Zr_35.5, Cu₅₀Zr₅₀, and Cu_33.3Zr_66.7 alloys at temperatures up to 1600 K has been measured by the contactless method in a rotating magnetic field. The measurements were taken during cooling in a helium atmosphere with a purity of 99.995%. The error of the electrical resistivity determination did not exceed 5%. It has been found that the electrical resistivity of liquid Cu_64.5Zr_35.5, Cu₅₀Zr₅₀, and Cu_33.3Zr_66.7 alloys decreases linearly with increasing temperature, while it increases with temperature for liquid copper and zirconium. The concentration dependences of the electrical resistivity and its temperature coefficient have a maximum at 55 at % and a minimum at about 60 at % Zr, respectively. These concentration dependences are similar to the dependences obtained for amorphous alloys and are explained in the framework of the Ziman theory.