Temperature dependence of the surface tension of indium

Original data on the temperature dependence of the surface tension of indium, obtained using two independent approaches (a large sessile drop and the maximum pressure in a drop) are presented. The focus is on analyzing possible methodological shortcomings of experimental studies in which the surface tension values of a number of pure metals are obtained that are considerably higher than the results from measuring surface tension by traditional means. It is found that cleaning the investigated metal surfaces through bombardment with heavy ions of inert gases can lead to violations of the thermodynamic equilibrium conditions of a surface with its own saturated vapor, and to the ensuing consequences.