Galinstan: Difference between revisions
m converted link to english version |
updated melting and refs |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Galinstan''' is an roughly [[eutectic]] [[alloy]] of [[gallium]], [[indium]], and [[tin]] which is liquid at room temperature, typically freezing at |
'''Galinstan''' is an roughly [[eutectic]] [[alloy]] of [[gallium]], [[indium]], and [[tin]] which is liquid at room temperature, typically freezing at -19 °[[Degree Celsius|C]] (-2.2 °[[Degree Fahrenheit|F]]).<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1007/s00216-005-0069-7|year=2005|month=Nov|author=Surmann, P; Zeyat, H|title=Voltammetric analysis using a self-renewable non-mercury electrode.|volume=383|issue=6|pages=1009–13|pmid=16228199|journal=Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}}</ref> Due to the low toxicity of its component metals, it finds use as a non-toxic replacement for many applications that previously employed liquid [[mercury (element)|mercury]] or [[NaK]] ([[sodium]]-[[potassium]] alloy). Composition: 68.5% Ga, 21.5% In, 10% Sn. Its name is a [[portmanteau]] of '''gal'''lium, '''in'''dium, and '''''stan'''''num ([[Latin language|Latin]] for "tin"). Galinstan is a [[registered trademark]] of the [[Germany|German]] company Geratherm Medical AG. |
||
==Physical properties== |
==Physical properties== |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
*Boiling point: >1300 °C |
*Boiling point: >1300 °C |
||
*Melting point: |
*Melting point: -19 °C |
||
*[[Vapour pressure]]: <10<sup>−8</sup> Torr (at 500 °C) |
*[[Vapour pressure]]: <10<sup>−8</sup> Torr (at 500 °C) |
||
*Density: 6.44 g/cm<sup>3</sup> (at 20 °C)<ref name="scitoys">http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/thermo/liquid_metal/oscillations_in_galinstan.pdf |
*Density: 6.44 g/cm<sup>3</sup> (at 20 °C)<ref name="scitoys">{{cite journal|url=http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/thermo/liquid_metal/oscillations_in_galinstan.pdf|title=Experimental Investigations of Electromagnetic Instabilities of |
||
Free Surfaces in a Liquid Metal Drop|journal=International Scientific Colloquium |
|||
Modelling for Electromagnetic Processing, Hannover|date= March 24-26, 2003|accessdate=2009-08-08}}</ref> |
|||
*Solubility: Insoluble in water or organic solvents |
*Solubility: Insoluble in water or organic solvents |
||
*[[Viscosity]]: 0.0024 [[Pascal (unit)|Pa]]·[[second|s]] (at 20 °C) |
*[[Viscosity]]: 0.0024 [[Pascal (unit)|Pa]]·[[second|s]] (at 20 °C) |
||
*[[Thermal conductivity]]: 16.5 [[Watt|W]]·m<sup>–1</sup>·[[Kelvin|K]]<sup>–1</sup> |
*[[Thermal conductivity]]: 16.5 [[Watt|W]]·m<sup>–1</sup>·[[Kelvin|K]]<sup>–1</sup> |
||
*[[Electrical conductivity]]: 3. |
*[[Electrical conductivity]]: 3.46x10<sup>6</sup> S/m (at 20 °C)<ref name="scitoys"/> |
||
*[[Surface tension]]: s = 0.718 N/m (at 20 °C)<ref name="scitoys"/> |
*[[Surface tension]]: s = 0.718 N/m (at 20 °C)<ref name="scitoys"/> |
||
Revision as of 22:48, 10 August 2009
Galinstan is an roughly eutectic alloy of gallium, indium, and tin which is liquid at room temperature, typically freezing at -19 °C (-2.2 °F).[1] Due to the low toxicity of its component metals, it finds use as a non-toxic replacement for many applications that previously employed liquid mercury or NaK (sodium-potassium alloy). Composition: 68.5% Ga, 21.5% In, 10% Sn. Its name is a portmanteau of gallium, indium, and stannum (Latin for "tin"). Galinstan is a registered trademark of the German company Geratherm Medical AG.
Physical properties
- Boiling point: >1300 °C
- Melting point: -19 °C
- Vapour pressure: <10−8 Torr (at 500 °C)
- Density: 6.44 g/cm3 (at 20 °C)[2]
- Solubility: Insoluble in water or organic solvents
- Viscosity: 0.0024 Pa·s (at 20 °C)
- Thermal conductivity: 16.5 W·m–1·K–1
- Electrical conductivity: 3.46x106 S/m (at 20 °C)[2]
- Surface tension: s = 0.718 N/m (at 20 °C)[2]
Galinstan tends to wet and adhere to many materials, including glass, which limits its use compared to mercury. Galinstan is commercially used as a mercury replacement in thermometers due to its nontoxic properties, but the inner tube must be coated with gallium oxide to prevent the alloy from wetting the glass surface.
Galinstan has higher reflectivity and lower density than mercury; it is investigated as a replacement of mercury in liquid mirror telescopes for astronomy. It is also a promising coolant, though its cost and aggressivity are major obstacles for its use.
Galinstan is difficult to use for cooling nuclear reactors, because indium has high cross section for thermal neutrons, efficiently absorbing them and inhibiting the fission reaction.
See also
References
- ^ Surmann, P; Zeyat, H (2005). "Voltammetric analysis using a self-renewable non-mercury electrode". Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. 383 (6): 1009–13. doi:10.1007/s00216-005-0069-7. PMID 16228199.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Experimental Investigations of Electromagnetic Instabilities of Free Surfaces in a Liquid Metal Drop" (PDF). International Scientific Colloquium Modelling for Electromagnetic Processing, Hannover. March 24–26, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
{{cite journal}}: line feed character in|journal=at position 36 (help); line feed character in|title=at position 64 (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)