The Surface Energy of Solid Metals

Abstract

Published solid/vapour surface-energy data for pure metals are collected and appraised. Preferred values at the melting point are related to heat of sublimation in conformity with the simplest theoretical predictions. Except for surface energies higher than expected for chromium and zinc and lower values for beryllium, molybdenum, tin, and tungsten, the results fit a relation corresponding within error to that for liquid/vapour surface energies. This correspondence is consistent with the expected increment in solid/vapour over liquid/vapour surface energy at the melting point.