Study of Cu–Ag liquid solutions by combined effusion vaporization and mass spectrometry sensing

Abstract

By applying the combined effusion vaporization from a Knudsen cell and mass spectrometry sensing techniques the thermodynamic properties of liquid Cu–Ag solutions were investigated. The method of measuring the intensity of the ⁶³CU₂₉ and ¹⁰⁷Ag₄₇ ion currents J is described. The enthalpies of vaporization and of sublimation of these metals were estimated from the temperature dependence of the ion-current intensity values. The investigation of the Cu–Ag system was carried out over the range 1350–1550 K for ten selected compositions covering the complete concentration range of the system explored. The obtained dependence of J+⁶³ CU ₂₉/J+¹⁰⁷ Ag ₄₇ on temperature served to determine the activity and the coefficients of Cu and Ag activity by means of the modified Gibbs–Duhem equation. The partial thermodynamic functions of Cu and Ag in the solutions examined were also determined. These experimental values are compared With the data obtained by other authors.