An investigation of the dissociation pressures and melting points of the system Copper-cuprous oxide

Abstract

E. Heyn determined the melting points of mixtures of copper and cuprous oxide of compositions varying between 100 per cent. Cu and 88·24 per cent. Cu, 11·76 per cent. Cu 2 O. The results of his experiments are shown by the points marked + in fig. 1. These points fall on two curves intersecting at the eutectic point 1065° C., Cu 2 O 3·5 per cent., Cu 96·5 per cent. Heyn found that all his mixtures showed a halt in the cooling curve at this eutectic temperature, so that within the range of his experiments there is no evidence of the existence of solid solutions. C. N. Otin has lately published some experiments on the melting points of the system cuprous oxide-silica. He attempted to determine the melting point of cuprous oxide, but as some oxidation always took place in his experiments, and as he did not analyse the solid obtained (on account of having to remelt it to get it out of the platinum crucible), there is some doubt as to the actual composition of the substance of which he determined the melting point. The highest temperature at which he found a halt in the cooling curve was 1205° C.