Thermodynamic study of liquid lithium-lead alloys using the EMF method

Liquid Li-Pb alloys were investigated by the electromotive force (emf) meth od at Li concentrations of 0.025 less than or equal to X-Li less than or eq ual to 0.965 mole fraction and at temperatures From 775 to 975 K. The exper iments were conducted at constant temperature, and the Li concentration was changed by the coulometric-titration technique. The two-phase Li-Bi alloys and liquid lithium were used as the reference electrodes. The dependence o f emfs on temperature for each investigated alloy was linear, and from the linear equations (E = a + bT), partial Li excess Gibbs energies, partial en thalpies and entropies of lithium were calculated, and compared with previo usly published data. The excess stability function ES and the concentration -concentration partial structure factor S-cc(0) were calculated and discuss ed in relation to the neutron diffraction data and other properties. A chan ge in the type of chemical bonding near the composition Li4Pb is indicated. This study was initiated since Pb-17Li eutectic alloy has been proposed as a breeder blanket fluid for fusion reactors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.