Oxygen partial pressure dependence of surface tension and its temperature coefficient for metallic melts: a discussion from the viewpoint of solubility and adsorption of oxygen

Surface tension of molten Si, Ag, and Fe–18Cr–8Ni alloy (Type-304 stainless steel) were measured as a function of the temperature and oxygen partial pressure of an ambient atmosphere by an oscillating drop method using electromagnetic levitation, which assures measurement over a wide range of temperatures below and above the melting point and of oxygen partial pressure. For molten silicon, the lower limit of measured temperature was determined by equilibrium oxygen partial pressure for SiO₂ formation; as oxygen partial pressure increases, undercooled conditions necessary for taking measurements become smaller. This is attributed to the low solubility of oxygen in molten silicon. For Ag, however, surface tension can be measured in a wide range of temperature and oxygen partial pressures due to the high solubility of oxygen. A boomerang-shaped behavior of surface tension was observed for Ag in an atmosphere with high oxygen partial pressure; surface tension has a maximum value when plotted against temperature. This boomerang-shaped behavior is attributed to desorption of oxygen at high temperature; surface tension increases with increasing temperature. The boomerang-shaped behavior was also observed for Fe–18Cr–8Ni alloy.