The thermodynamic properties, microscopic functions, and diffusivity of liquid Zn-Cd alloys have been predicted by the molecular interaction volume model (MIVM). These properties were also predicted by the self-association model (SAM) (O. E. Awe et al., Appl Phys A. 2017;123:363). Considered the deviation between the predicted values and the experimental values, the MIVM is more reliable and convenient than the SAM. Different from the results of SAM, the asymmetry of properties against concentration calculated by MIVM shows a relatively large reduction, which agreed with the experimental results. Moreover, some cross-over phenomena, which occurred in the conclusions analysed by SAM, were not found in the results from MIVM. The results of this study serve as a supplement to the thermodynamic description of the Zn-Cd system.

This study investigates the influence of rare earth element Ce addition on the nanoscale precipitation, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Ti-containing secondary phases in high-strength low-alloy weathering steel. Mechanical property testing and microstructural characterization were performed on experimental samples subjected to rolling-aging treatment. The results demonstrate that the addition of Ce promotes coarsening of nanoscale precipitates, thereby diminishing their precipitation strengthening effect. At a 0.11% Ce content, an increase in inclusions was observed, leading to crack formation during hot deformation. However, Ce addition also refines inclusion size and modifies inclusion types, contributing to steel purification. Through austenite recrystallization zone rolling combined with an isothermal process, a high-strength ferritic weathering steel with nanoscale precipitates was fabricated, exhibiting a yield strength of 635 MPa, tensile strength of 750 MPa, and elongation of 21.2%. Precipitation strengthening plays a critical role in enhancing the room-temperature strength of ferritic steel.

The self-association model is an effective theoretical method for determining the thermodynamic parameters of immiscible molten binary alloys. However, two important parameters (the ratios of numbers of two atoms in the cluster n and the interchange energy W) in the model had confusing temperature dependences, which prevented the statistical mechanical model from accurately predicting the physical and chemical properties at various temperatures. The ratios of the two atoms in the cluster and the interchange energy were proposed in this study to be linear with temperature, respectively, to analyze the segregation of liquid Zn–Bi alloys. The hypothesis about two key parameters is helpful to predict the segregating nature of liquid Zn–Bi alloys, as evidenced by the good accordance of the predicted thermophysical properties (activity, free energy of mixing, miscibility gap, entropy of mixing, partial molar entropy, and concentration fluctuation) with the existing experimental data.