Density Measurement of Molten Scandium by an Electrostatic Levitator

The density of liquid scandium was measured using an electrostatic levitation technique. Among metal elements, scandium liquid is significantly reactive, which inhibits precise measurements of its physical properties. To resolve this problem, an electrostatic levitator was used in a vacuum on the ground. As a result, the precise density and thermal expansion were obtained and subsequently evaluated using a simple relationship between the temperature dependence of the density of a liquid metal and boiling temperature, which were founded by Steinberg. Although the previous measurement data did not conform to the Steinberg's relationship, the data, as well as that of other metals, showed good agreement with the relationship.