Thermodynamic Functions and Electrical Resistivity of Fluid Lead in the Metal–Nonmetal Transition Range

Abstract

A dynamic method is used to measure the thermodynamic functions and the electrical resistivity of fluid lead for a wide range of specific volume and pressure. The measurements errors have been reduced to a level comparable to those of stationary methods. It is found that the transition of the fluid from the metallic state to a nonmetallic state occurs when its specific volume increases 2.7 times relative to the normal value. In each individual experiment the transition occurred at almost a constant pressure, and was detected by the change in sign of the isochoric temperature coefficient of resistance determined for the entire series of the experiments. In the pressure range of 0.6–5 GPa, the specific volume at which the metal–nonmetal transition occurs is found to be independent of pressure, and therefore, the transition line is close to an isochore. For the whole range of states of fluid lead investigated here, the speed of sound and the Grüneisen coefficient have been determined.