Surface tension and mass density of liquid Cu–Ge alloys

We report a study on the mass density and surface tension of liquid Cu–Ge alloys in the temperature range between the liquidus line and 1373 K. The experiments have been carried out by means of the sessile-drop method. The temperature dependences of both properties are given in terms of linear relations for all alloys under investigation. Both, density and surface tension show remarkable deviations from linear mixing: The density is increased, and the surface tension reduced due to Ge acting as surfactant. The composition dependence of the surface tension is discussed in terms of a simple compound formation model which is well able to relate the results to previous findings on the short-range order of the alloys under investigation.