New measurements of the thermal conductivity of molten mercury, gallium, tin, and indium are reported up to 750 K. The measurements are performed in a novel transient hot-wire instrument described elsewhere. The present experimental technique overcomes problems of convection, and it is shown that it operates in an absolute way in accord with a theoretical model. The uncertainty of the thermal conductivity results is estimated to be ± 2%, which is superior to that achieved in most earlier work. The low uncertainty of the present experimental results has allowed us to test the only significant theory for the thermal conductivity of molten metals, which relates this property to the electrical conductivity. The pattern of results among the four metals indicates that further theoretical developments would be warranted.
The paper reports the design and construction of a new instrument for the measurement of the thermal conductivity of molten metals and salts. The apparatus is based on the transient hot-wire technique, and it is intended for operation over a wide range of temperatures, from ambient up to 1200 K. The present experimental technique overcomes problems of convection and thermal radiation, and it is demonstrated that it operates in accord with a theoretical model. The uncertainty of the thermal conductivity results is estimated to be ±2 % which is superior to that achieved in most earlier work.
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