Experimental investigation and thermodynamic calculations of the Ag–Ga–Sn phase diagram

Abstract

Phase equilibria in the Ag–Ga–Sn ternary system have been studied experimentally by using differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Three vertical sections (Ag–Ga50Sn50, Ga–Ag50Sn50 and Sn–Ag50Ga50) and one isothermal section at 100°C were experimentally established. Based on available information in the literature and present experimental results, a thermodynamic description of the ternary Ag-Ga-Sn system has been developed by using CALPHAD method. Reasonable agreement between experimental data and the calculated phase diagrams is reached. The liquid projection and invariant equilibria have been calculated by using presently obtained thermodynamic parameters.