Short-range ordering in binary liquid alloys of rare earth metals with copper and silver

The thermodynamic properties of binary liquid alloys of rare earth metals with copper and silver indicate that these systems possess chemical short-range ordering. Ideal associated solution (IAS) model calculations of the thermodynamic properties including the concentration correlation function S_cc(0) for Cu-Y, Cu-La and Cu-Lu melts are in good agreement with experimental data. The results of a model analysis on the dependences of S_cc(0) vs. concentration including the percolation theory approach are proposed in order to facilitate the calculation of S_cc(0) from experimental thermodynamic activity data. The Faber—Ziman partial structure factors in the zero wavevector limit and the charge-transfer effects for Ag-La melts are evaluated; the parameters which are not available were shown to be represented using the IAS approximation.