Density of liquid Hg1−<i>x</i>Cd<i>x</i>Te

Abstract

Negative thermal expansion has been established in liquid Hg1−xCdx for x&amp;lt;0.2 employing a pycnometric method. Pure HgTe increases in density from its melting point at 670 °C to a maximum value at ∼750 °C, where normal thermal expansion progressively resumes. The dependence of density on temperature for liquid Hg1−xCdxTe arises almost exclusively from the HgTe portion of the melt, while CdTe acts as a diluent. The temperature corresponding to the maximum density changes slightly with composition, increasing by about 5 °C for x=0.1.