A fusible alloy is a metal alloy capable of
being easily fused, i.e. easily
meltable, at relatively low temperatures. Fusible alloys are commonly, but not
necessarily, eutectic alloys.
Sometimes the term "fusible alloy" is used to describe alloys with a melting point below 183 °C (361 °F; 456 K). Fusible alloys in this sense are used for solder.
Introduction
Low-melting
alloys can be divided into the following categories:
1. Mercury-containing
alloys
2. Only alkali
metal-containing alloys
3. Gallium-containing
alloys (but neither alkali metal nor mercury)
4. Only bismuth,
lead, tin, cadmium, zinc, indium, and sometimes thallium-containing alloys
5. Other alloys
(rarely used)
6. Some reasonably
well-known fusible alloys are Wood's metal, Field's metal, Rose metal,
Galinstan, and NaK.
Applications
Melted fusible alloys can be used as coolants as they are stable under heating and can give much higher thermal conductivity than most other coolants; particularly with alloys made with a high thermal conductivity metal such as indium or sodium. Metals with low neutron cross-section are used for cooling nuclear reactors.
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