Thermal Expansion of Bismuth Single Crystals Near the Melting Point

Abstract
Single crystals of Bi highly purified by repeated crystallizations show no decline in the coefficient of thermal expansion as the melting point is approached. It is shown that the presence of impurities (Pb, Ag, Cd, Sn) in very small amounts does cause the coefficient to decline and attain negative values in a range of 10° or 20°C below the melting point. On the basis of these observations the discrepancy between previous results by Roberts, and Ho and Goetz concerning the integral (macroscopic) thermal dilatation, and Goetz and Hergenrother, and Jay concerning the lattice expansion of Bi crystals is discussed.

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