Viscosity and supercooling of Fe-Cr (≤40 at % Cr) melts

We have studied the composition dependences of the kinematic viscosity (ν) and supercooling (Δt) of Fe-Cr melts at chromium contents of up to 40 at %. The results indicate that there is a minimum in viscosity at 5 at % Cr, a maximum at 12 at % Cr, and a sharp rise in the crystallization tendency of the solid solution in this composition range. The Δt(x) and ν(x) data obtained can be understood in terms of the composition dependence of the bonding energy, which is governed by the geometric and chemical short-range order in the atomic arrangement. Using a probabilistic approach to evaluation of various short-range order configurations and the experimental viscosity and supercooling data at chromium contents of 2.5 and 30 at %, we have calculated Δt(x) and ν(x) up to 40 at % Cr.