Shear viscoelastic relaxation of a nitrate melt

Abstract

The viscoelastic behaviour of a melt containing 62 mol % KNO₃ and 38 mol % Ca(NO₃)₂ has been studied between 330 and 450 K using shear waves of frequencies 75 and 160 kHz and 5 and 30 MHz. The relaxation mechanism does not change over this range of temperature and frequency. Results may be described by a viscoelastic analogue of the Cole-Davidson expression for dielectric relaxation. This relationship also fits other common forms of viscoelastic behaviour such as that described by Barlow, Erginsav and Lamb.