Surface energy and surface tension of solid and liquid metals: Recommended values

Abstract

In this work the experimental Surface Energy (SE) and Surface Tension (ST) values and their temperature coefficients for twenty-three pure solid and forty eight pure liquid metals are presented. Error in the measuring SE and ST for solids was less than 2 percent, and that for liquids and the temperature coefficients was about 0.5 percent and 8 percent, respectively. High purity metals (99.999 percent of the basic elements) have been used. The measurements have been carried out either under high vacuum conditions or in inert gas atmosphere when the thermodynamic equilibrium was achieved. An analysis of data for SE and ST obtained during the last thirty years has been made. The recommended values of ST of metals are presented in a table.