Sodium–potassium alloy
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Infobox material Sodium–potassium alloy, colloquially called NaK (commonly pronounced Template:IPAc-en),<ref>Houghton, Rick, Emergency Characterization of Unknown Materials Template:Webarchive, CRC Press, 2007, p.89</ref> is an alloy of the alkali metals sodium (Na, atomic number 11) and potassium (K, atomic number 19) that is normally liquid at room temperature.<ref name="basf-ds-NaK"/> Various commercial grades are available. NaK is highly reactive with water (like its constituent elements) and may catch fire when exposed to air, so it must be handled with special precautions.
Properties
Physical properties
NaK containing 40% to 90% potassium by mass is liquid at room temperature. The eutectic mixture consists of 77% potassium and 23% sodium by mass (NaK-77), and it is a liquid from Template:Convert, and has a density of 0.866 g/cm3 at Template:Convert and 0.855 g/cm3 at Template:Convert, making it less dense than water.<ref name="basf-ds-NaK">Template:Cite web</ref> It is highly reactive with water and is stored usually under hexane or other hydrocarbons, or under an inert gas (usually dry nitrogen or argon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) if high purity and low levels of oxidation are required.
A solid compound, Template:Chem2, exists at low temperatures, containing 46 percent potassium by mass.
NaK has a very high surface tension, which makes large amounts of it pull into a bun-like shape. Its specific heat capacity is 982 J/(kg⋅K), which is roughly one quarter of that for water, but heat transfer is higher over a temperature gradient due to higher thermal conductivity.<ref name="nordichardware-p2_s549">Template:Cite web</ref>
Chemical properties
When stored in air, it forms a flammable potassium superoxide coating which reacts explosively with water and organics. NaK is not dense enough to sink in most hydrocarbons, but will sink in lighter mineral oil. It is unsafe to store in this manner if the superoxide has formed. A large explosion took place at the Oak Ridge Y-12 facility on December 8, 1999, when NaK was cleaned up after an accidental spill, inappropriately treated with mineral oil, and then scratched with a metal tool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The liquid alloy also attacks PTFE ("Teflon").<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Sodium–potassium alloy polymerizes dimethyldichlorosilane into polysilanes with a Si-Si backbone and methyl radicals, primarily dodecamethylcyclohexasilane.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> <math chem display=block>\ce{6 (CH3)2SiCl2 + 12 M -> [(CH3)2Si]6 + 12 MCl} \ \ce{(M = Na, K)}</math>
Further alloys with low melting points
Further alloys with low melting points are Template:Chem2 at Template:Convert, Template:Chem2 at Template:Convert and Template:Chem2 at Template:Convert. The alloy consisting of 40.8 % caesium, 11.8 % sodium and 47.4 % potassium has a melting point of Template:Convert.Template:Clarification needed
Usage
File:Sodium potassium alloy in molten state.webm
Coolant
NaK has been used as the coolant in experimental fast neutron nuclear reactors. Unlike commercial plants, these are frequently shut down and defuelled. Use of lead or pure sodium, the other materials used in practical reactors, would require continual heating to maintain the coolant as a liquid. Use of NaK overcomes this. The Dounreay Fast Reactor is an example.
The first nuclear reactor in space,<ref name="beyondNERVA2019">"History of US Astronuclear Reactors part 1: SNAP-2 and 10A", Beyond NERVA, April 3, 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2024.</ref><ref>Andrew LePage, "The First Nuclear Reactor in Orbit", Drew Ex Machina, April 3, 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2024.</ref> the United States' experimental SNAP-10A satellite, used NaK as coolant. The NaK was circulated through the core and thermoelectric converters by a liquid metal direct current conduction-type pump.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The satellite was launched in 1965,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and as of 2022 is the only fission reactor power system launched into space by the United States.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
The Soviet RORSAT radar satellites were powered by a BES-5 reactor, which was cooled with NaK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In addition to the wide liquid temperature range, NaK has a very low vapor pressure, which is important in the vacuum of space.
An unintended consequence of the usage as a coolant on orbiting satellites has been the creation of additional space debris. NaK coolant has leaked from a number of satellites, including Kosmos 1818 and Kosmos 1867. The coolant self-forms into droplets of sodium–potassium of up to several centimeters in size.<ref>C. Wiedemann et al, "Size distribution of NaK droplets for MASTER-2009", Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Space Debris, 30 March-2 April 2009, (ESA SP-672, July 2009)</ref> These objects are space debris.<ref>A. Rossi et al, "Effects of the RORSAT NaK Drops on the Long Term Evolution of the Space Debris Population" Template:Webarchive, University of Pisa, 1997.</ref>
The Danamics LMX Superleggera CPU cooler uses NaK to transport heat from the CPU to its cooling fins.<ref>Template:Cite web
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Desiccant
In contact with water, hydrogen is created.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Hence, sodium–potassium alloys are used as desiccants in drying solvents prior to distillation.
Hydraulic fluid
Eutectic NaK (NaK-77, an alloy of 77% potassium and 23% sodium by mass) can be used as a hydraulic fluid in high-temperature and high-radiation environments, for temperature ranges of Template:Convert. Its bulk modulus at Template:Convert is 2.14 GPa, higher than of a hydraulic oil at room temperature. Its lubricity is poor, so positive-displacement pumps are unsuitable and centrifugal pumps have to be used. Addition of caesium shifts the useful temperature range to Template:Convert. NaK-77 was tested in hydraulic and fluidic systems for the Supersonic Low Altitude Missile.<ref>Vernon R. Schmitt, 2002, Controlled Bombs and Guided Missiles of the World War II and Cold War Eras, Template:ISBN</ref> NaK may also be used to transmit forces inside high temperature pressure transducers as an alternative to mercury.<ref name="MPI">Template:Cite web</ref>
Chemical methods
NaK can be used as catalyst in some reactions, such as isobutylbenzene, a precursor to ibuprofen.<ref>U.S. Patent #2995610, "Isobutylbenzene Preparation". Assigned August 8, 1961 to Standard Oil Co.</ref>
Synthesis and production
Industrially, NaK is produced in a reactive distillation.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>