Abstract
X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained for molten Fe, Co, and Ni and molten, Fe-C, Ni-C, and Fe-Si alloys at temperatures between melting point and 1650deg;C. After calculating the structure factor (Fourieranalysis) the atomic radial distribution function was evaluated from which nearest neighbour distancer1 and coordination number n1, were obtained. Comparing the results with those previously observedby other investigators, a reasonable agreement was found.
The dependence of the structure of molten Fe-C alloys on carbon concentration was found as follows;the nearest neighbour distance r1 and coordination number n1 become larger with an increase in carbonconcentration up to 2·1wt% C. Between 2·1wt% and 3·0wt% C, r1 and n1 remain constant. Above 3·0wt% C, r1 and n1 slightly decrease. On the other hand, r1 and n1, are almost constant in molten Ni-C alloysup to 2·0wt% C. In molten Fe-Si alloys, r1 and n;1 become smaller with an increase in silicon concentrationup to 10·0wt% Si. The structural behavior of molten alloys was discussed with reference to theircrystal structures in the solid state.
