Measurement of solid-liquid interfacial energy for solid Zn in the Zn-Cd eutectic system

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for the Zn solid solution in Zn-Cd liquid solutions were directly observed. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs-Thomson coefficient for solid Zn (Zn-15 wt.% Cd) in Zn-Cd liquid solutions has been determined to be (2.5 ± 0.1) × 10−8 Km by a direct method. The solid-liquid interfacial energy between solid Zn and Zn-Cd liquid solution has been obtained to be (165.5 ± 19.0) mJ/m2 from the Gibbs-Thomson equation. The grain boundary energy for the same alloy has been determined as (317.8 ± 39.9) mJ/m2. The thermal conductivities of the solid and liquid phases at the eutectic composition and temperature have also been measured.