Chemical short-range order in liquid Ni–Cu

Abstract

Abstract Neutron diffraction in combination with isotopic substitution on the zero-scatterer 62Ni43 63Cu57 shows indications for chemical short-range order in the stable liquid as evidenced by oscillations in the concentration–concentration structure factor S CC(q). This points towards a non-ideal solution behavior of Ni–Cu contrary to common believe but in agreement with measurements of free enthalpy of mixing. The temperature dependence of S CC at small momentum transfer provides evidence of critical compositional fluctuations in Ni43Cu57 melts.