Fusible alloy
The term molten metal is used to designate metals in the liquid state, as well as the product of metal powder epoxy resin dispersions (such as conductive adhesives or thermal grease ).
Only a metal element is a liquid at room temperature ( 20 ° C), the mercury. Sometimes even francium are (estimated: 27 ° C), cesium ( 28.5 ° C) and gallium ( 29-30 ° C melting point) expected to do so.
In the technique, all metals are referred to as liquid metal, which are located in its application in the liquid state. This is mainly to metals whose melting points below 350 ° C. For example, liquid tin is in the production of window glass used in the glass melt flow and cure (see float glass). Liquid sodium is used as coolant in the reactor or high-performance engines.
Commercially numerous products that are referred to as liquid metal are ( Petec liquid metal, Loctite 3450, Conrad liquid metal, etc.). Most are the metal or ceramic dispersions in epoxy resin that hold after curing metal-like material properties and are used for bonding or repairing metal objects. Also thermal compounds such as Arctic Silver are sometimes referred to as liquid metals.
In German-speaking translation of the company name Liquidmetal Technologies ensures sometimes confusion. The alloys produced by Liquidmetal form metallic glasses, but are not liquid at room temperature (possibly amorphous) and have melting points of several hundred degrees Celsius. Glasses are indeed often considered in physics as frozen liquids, but are no liquids in general usage. Especially in popular scientific articles on the very modern and exotic material class of metallic glasses is often written by the liquid metal, but this is usually due to linguistic misunderstandings and lack of expertise.
In trade there are products, which are also referred to as liquid metal. Behind it usually hides an image embedded in a polymer metal powder that is processed similarly to an oil or a paste and reproduces under certain circumstances metallic properties (strength).
In addition, alloys such as reflex S01, Gunsmoke, bronze, brass, and in prepared mixtures are commercially standard metals such as aluminum, iron, copper and tin, which can be applied in cold spraying or painting. The metal particles are mixed in the cold state with a polyester and curing agent, and then about 60 minutes paintable. It can paint like in the automotive sector or industrial painting systems are used for this. The applied layer is about 180 microns ( 0.18 mm). Thicker layers are also possible. In the reduction of the surface by grinding to about 25 microns of paint mist is mainly removed. Thereafter, a surface is present, which contains about 95% metal. The entire matrix has about 85-90 % metal. The surfaces have almost all the properties as solid metals. However, they are not electrically conductive. The surfaces may be further treated (matte, satin, glossy, patinated green, black, stainless ).
Low-melting alloys
A special physical appearance are eutectic alloys. To what extent is eutectic alloy, obtained from the following table.
Other alloys are NaK with a melting temperature of -11 ° C and gallium compounds, such as galinstan.