[mynode]

I’m searching for a liquid with a liquid range from as close to room temperature as possible to perhaps 800 C though I could probably work with something with a smaller range. The liquid would need to be inert in a propane-air combustion environment and preferably something that wouldn’t produce toxic fumes if some boiling or decomposition occurred.

I’ve considered using tin or a eutectic alloy, but I suspect that some oxide formation would be inevitable and I'd like to avoid that.

I’m wondering if there is some kind of eutectic silicate or molten salt that might be suitable, but I don’t have access to the data.  I know there is a lot of research taking place like the CALPHAD project, but I can’t find any publicly available data.

Can anyone suggest a solution (no pun intended) or point me to some public resources either online or in references I would be likely to find at a library?

[Donaldson Tan]

try solder?

[mynode]

Solder is an eutectic alloy.  It might work, but I was concerned about oxide formation if the liquid solder is exposed to oxygen.  I might do some expermenting to see how great the tendency is.  I am really hoping to find something that is completely inert.

[xiankai]

a week ago, i was participating in a solder workshop

they told us solder had like 60% tin and 40% lead, so i think its qutie hazardous. (we had to wash our hands after handling it) though it has a low melting point (200 C), im not sure about the boiling point.

it gives off some toxic fumes, and since i had to lean near to the solder to see how well it had soldered, i got a nasty whiff of the pungent smell

and that was with working with a thin wire of solder, trying to work with liquid solder would probably be giving off alot of fumes. also becareful, because solder can splash around. i've had a few on my hands, but they do no lasting harm.

[jdurg]

Gallium metal is completely non-toxic and has a melting point a few degrees above room temperature.  If you hold some solid Ga in your hand it will melt into a puddle.  It's boiling point is also extremely high, so it has a very wide liquid range.  However, it will oxidize over time and I'm not sure if that would go against what you are looking for.  (In reality, all liquid metal compositions will oxidize).