Nuclear quadrupolar spin relaxation and association in binary liquid metallic alloys

We present experimental data for the nuclear quadrupolar spin relaxation rate Rq in liquid InxSb1–x, HgxK1–x and In50Hg50. The results for the concentration and temperature dependence of Rq can be qualitatively interpreted with the framework of association in these systems (quasi ternary solution model). We conclude that the relaxation is mostly due to the decay of associates in HgIn and to rotational diffusion of associates in Hg – K. In In – Sb, the corresponding correlation times seem to be equal so that both relaxation processes may contribute to the relaxation. The analysis of microscopic experiments using the concept of association may prove useful for a better understanding of the nature of the associates.