Electrical Conductivity ol High-Purity Zinc

S u m m a r y . Electrical conductivity properties of high-purity zinc (better than 99.9999%) have been studied at low temperatures, By analysing the resistivity ratio vs. temperature curve, it has been possible to deduce an approximate value of 175 °K for the Debye temperature of zinc. From the data deduced by the study of thickness effect on electron scattering a number of electricity carriers of 0.25~0.05 electrons/atom and a mean free path of about 100 ~m, in the purest samples have been determined. A nonlinear dependence of resistivity in liquid He from the atomic concentration has been observed for some impurities, such as Pb, Cd and Cu. Finally, from the comparison of experimental data with the Seeger-Schottky theory on the electrical resistivity due to grain boundaries, a value of 4-10 -12 ohm cm for unit grain-boundary surface per unit volume has been determined, and it has been possible to establish that the density decrease at grain boundaries in zinc is higher than in f.c.c, metals.