Dynamic viscosity of a liquid Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu alloy with Ni nanoparticles

The impact of minor additions of Ni nanoparticles on the dynamic viscosity of the liquid Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu alloy (SAC305; in wt%) is examined. The nanocomposite samples were prepared from commercial SAC305 powder and Ni nanopowder by cold pressing. The dynamic viscosity of the (Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5)100-xNix alloys measured during heating and cooling exhibited a hysteresis in a temperature range up to 100 K above the melting temperature. This is supposed to be related to the structural transformations caused by dissolution of Ni nanoparticles in the liquid Sn-based matrix upon heating. The experimental values of the viscosity of the (Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5)100-xNix alloys are in a good agreement with calculated data using thermodynamic approaches.