Thermodynamic studies of oxygen behavior in tantalum-based alloys

An experimental study of equilibrium thermodynamic properties of oxygen in pure tantalum and tantalum alloyed with V, Nb or Mo was made by EMF measurements on solid electrolytic cells over the temperature range of 873–1373 K (600–1100°C). The solubility of oxygen in pure tantalum in equilibrium with Ta₂O₅ was determined to be C_s = 12.4exp[−(16 kJ/mol)/(RT)] over the experimental temperature range. It was concluded that oxygen obeys Henry's law for concentrations up to the terminal solubility in tantalum for the temperature range 873–1373 K (600–1100°C). The oxygen activity coefficient increased with Mo content in TaMo alloys and decreased with V content in TaV alloys. The equilibrium results showed virtually no change in thermodynamic behavior of the oxygen solution by adding Nb to TaO alloys. The positive deviation of the oxygen activity coefficient in TaMo alloys is evidence of a repulsive interaction between molybdenum and oxygen atoms. The interaction energy was calculated assuming that the interaction extends to third nearest neighbors. It may, in fact, extend to fourth or higher neighboring shells of atoms.