Temperature dependence of thermophysical properties for liquid Zr-Sn-Nb-Fe alloy measured at electrostatic levitation state

Highlights: • The thermophysical properties of liquid Zr-based nuclear material were determined. • The addition of Sn, Nb and Fe causes an increase in thermophysical properties. • Both σ and η display a larger change with temperature in comparison with Zr. The thermophysical properties of N36 type Zr-Sn-Nb-Fe alloy were investigated within the temperature range of 1750–2250 K. The liquid density at liquidus temperature and its temperature coefficient are determined as 6.28 g cm⁻³ and 2.78 × 10⁻⁴ g cm⁻³ K⁻¹. The liquid thermal expansion coefficient at T_L is 4.4 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹. The liquid specific heat also displays a linear relationship versus temperature. The addition of alloying elements causes an apparent increase of specific heat, surface tension and viscosity. Moreover, both surface tension and viscosity display a larger change versus temperature in comparison with Zr.