Calorimetric measurements of the Li–Zn system. Direct reaction method and mixing enthalpy

•Calorimetric measurements of liquid Li–Zn alloys.•Integral enthalpies of mixing of liquid Li–Zn alloys at 814K.•Enthalpy of formation of βLi2Zn3, βLi2Zn5 and βLiZn4 phases.•Thermodynamic properties of liquid Li–Zn alloys. The formation enthalpy of the βLi2Zn3, βLi2Zn5 and βLiZn4 intermetallic phases and the integral enthalpy of mixing of liquid Li–Zn alloys were measured with the use of two calorimetric techniques. The direct reaction calorimetric method was used for the determination of the formation enthalpy of the βLi2Zn3, βLi2Zn5 and βLiZn4 intermetallic phases, and the obtained values equal: −16.7±0.5kJ/molat., −19.0±0.6kJ/molat., and −14.2±0.6kJ/molat., respectively. The integral molar enthalpies of mixing for the Li–Zn liquid alloys were determined by means of drop calorimetry in three separate series at 814K. The obtained experimental values are negative in the entire range of concentrations. The minimum of the integral enthalpy of mixing was observed for 0.3790 mole fraction of lithium and it equals −12.3kJ/mol Based on the data of this study and those available in the literature, the interaction parameters of the Redlich–Kister equation for the liquid Li–Zn phase were calculated by the least square method.