Local structure of the halite-sylvine solid solution according to the computer simulation data

The structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of halite NaCl and sylvine KCl and the miscibility properties of the NaCl-KCl solid solution found by computer simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data. Analysis of the relaxation of the solid solution structure suggests that both anion and cation sublattices are distorted; however, the anion sublattice is distorted much more strongly. Calculations of the local bond valence at all types of ions in the solid solution show opposite deviations from the balance at cations, whereas the general balance is retained. The values of the electrostatic potential in the ion positions reflect weakening of bonding in the solid solution with respect to its pure components. In addition, with an increase in the average interatomic distance in the first coordination sphere around cations, the modulus of the electrostatic potential at cations decreases.