Density and Surface Tension of Electromagnetically Levitated Cu–Co–Fe Alloys

The density and surface tension of Cu–Co–Fe alloys have been measured using the non-contact technique of electromagnetic levitation. At temperatures above and below the liquidus point, the density and surface tension are linear functions of temperature. The experimental density results can be predicted by means of the regular solution model from the binary phases alone, i.e., no assumption about ternary interactions needs to be made. The surface tension values are in good agreement with numerical solutions of the Butler equation if the known Gibbs excess energies are used. It is found that, for Cu–Co–Fe, it is possible to predict the surface tension from the binary systems as well. In addition to this, the surface tension is insensitive to substitution of the two transition metals, Co and Fe.