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The Surface Tension of Pure Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

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Abstract

The surface tension of high purity and commercial purity aluminum in vacuo was determined using the sessile drop method and the results were found to compare favorably with published data. The effects of holding atmosphere, substrate, and “surface fracture” of the sessile drop on the measured surface tension values were investigated together with the effects of different solute elements commonly present in commercial aluminum alloys. The results obtained suggest that the nature of the surface oxide film formed on the droplets (affected by alloy composition and atmosphere) and the rupture of this film are the dominant factors influencing the surface tension values obtained. Changes in surface tension values of up to 60 pct were observed. The possible effect of this variable surface tension on practical casting processes, such as direct chill casting, is suggested.

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Notes

  1. The cleaning protocol involved etching in 0.5 pct HF for 30 seconds, washing in water, and then storage in acetone until insertion into the furnace.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the CAST Cooperative Research Centre (CAST CRC) for its support of this Ph.D. Project. CAST CRC was established under and supported by the Australian Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The authors wish to thank their fellow colleagues at the University of Queensland for fruitful discussions throughout the Project, in particular, Professor Arne Dahle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAST Cooperative Research Centre (CAST CRC), School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Ian Frank Bainbridge (Senior Research Scientist) & John Andrew Taylor (Associate Professor)

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  1. Ian Frank Bainbridge
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  2. John Andrew Taylor
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Correspondence to John Andrew Taylor.

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Manuscript submitted September 10, 2012.

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Bainbridge, I.F., Taylor, J.A. The Surface Tension of Pure Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys. Metall Mater Trans A 44, 3901–3909 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-013-1696-9

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