Liquid Metal Alloys

Liquidmetal alloys are a revolutionary class of metal materials that redefine performance, process, and design paradigms. Liquidmetal alloys represent the first enabling materials technology since the creation of thermoplastics and possess characteristics that make them superior in many ways to other popular high performance materials.

First, they have an "amorphous" atomic structure, which is unprecedented for bulk structural metals. Second, they include a multi-component chemical composition, which are optimized for various properties and processes. Finally, Liquid metal alloys are the first commericially available metals with process technologies similar to plastics.

Alloy systems that are liquid at room temperature have a high degree of thermal conductivity far superior to ordinary nonmetallic liquids. This results in the use of these materials for specific heat conducting and/or dissipation applications. Other advantages of these liquid alloy systems are their inherent high densities and electrical conductivities.

These alloys will wet most metallic surface once oxides have been sufficiently removed from the substrate surface. However, gallium is very reactive with some metals, even at room temperature. At high temperature, gallium dissolves most metals, although a number, including Na, K, Au, Mg, Pb, Ni and interestingly Hg, are only slightly soluble at moderate temperatures.

Gallium and the gallium alloys have the ability to wet too many non-metallic surfaces such as glass and quartz. Gently rubbing the gallium alloy into the surface may help induce wetting.

Note: These alloys form a thin dull looking oxide skin that is easily dispersed with mild agitation. The oxide-free surfaces are bright and lustrous.

Typical applications for these materials include thermostats, switches, barometers, heat transfer systems, and thermal cooling and heating designs. Uniquely, they can be used to conduct heat and/or electricity between non-metallic and metallic surfaces.

Unopened bottles have a guaranteed one-year shelf life. It is recommended that, as the alloy is removed from the bottle, the volume be replaced with dry argon. This will minimize the possibility of oxidation at the surface of the alloy. If the alloy has been stored below its melting point and has solidified, it should be re-melted and thoroughly shaken or mixed before use. Care should be taken in reheating the alloy in the original packaging provided. Temperatures should not exceed 65.6°C.

The technology of Liquidmetal alloys provides for the optimization of properties for specific applications by tailoring the combination of process, chemistry and atomic structur

Several very low melting point Indalloy® alloys are liquid at room temperature. These gallium-based alloys are finding increased use in various applications as a replacement for toxic mercury, which has a high vapor pressure at room temperature. These alloys have reduced toxicity and lower vapor pressure than mercury.

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