Abstract
Measurements are presented of the thermoelectric function of dilute Mo-Nb, W-Ta and Ta-W alloys in the temperature range 2-7K. The experiments on alloys from the middle of the transition series were undertaken to compare and contrast the results with those obtained from alloys based on Pd and Pt for which the d band is almost full. The data are separated into diffusion and phonon-drag components and are compared with simple theoretical models. Rather surprisingly the results correspond more closely to a simple s-d model than to a calculation based on first principles, although the delicate balance of contributions from different parts of the Fermi surface makes the lattice approach in these metals extremely difficult.