Erratum to: Transition metal alloys of extraordinary stability; An example of generalized Lewis-acid-base interactions in metallic systems

Abstract

The Engel theory of metals predicts unusually high thermodynamic stability for certain classes of alloys of transition metals for which generalized Lewis-acid-base interactions are possible. To test these predictions, phase equilibria were studied for ternary systems of Zr, C, and the transition metals Re, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ag, and Au. Similar literature data for Nb, Ta, Hf, Th, Y, Ce, Er, and Pu with Re, Ru, Rh, Ir, Pt, and Au were evaluated. Thermodynamic data for the carbides of Zr, Hf, Th, Nb, Ta, U, and Y were critically evaluated, tabulated for 1200 to 2300 K, and used to fix the Gibbs energies of formation in kcal/g-atom of alloy, or their limits, for the binary phases of the above metals. In addition, for Zr, activity coefficients and excess Gibbs energies are tabulated. The predicted high stabilities for alloys of Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt are confirmed with excess Gibbs energies ranging to —100 kcal/g-atom and activity coefficients as low as 10-12 for zirconium or hafnium in dilute solutions of platinum at 1800 K. Some of the properties of these unusually stable compounds have been measured.