Phase diagram of the ternary system CeCl 3–KCl–LiCl

Abstract

The phase diagram of the ternary system CeCl 3–KCl–LiCl has been investigated by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA). It was found that the ternary system can be subdivided into two pseudoternary systems and no ternary compound was found in the whole ternary system. It was determined that there are six surfaces corresponding to the primary crystallization of KCl, LiCl, CeCl 3, K 3Ce 5Cl 18, K 2CeCl 5 and K 3CeCl 6. There are two ternary eutectic points, E 1 (15.6 wt% KCl, 19.3 wt% LiCl, 65.1 wt% CeCl 3; 395°C) and E 2 (13.6 wt% CeCl 3, 50.8 wt% KCl, 35.6 wt% LiCl; 340°C), and one ternary peritectic point, P (68.1 wt% CeCl 3, 13.5 wt% KCl, 18.4 wt% LiCl; 398°C), in the system CeCl 3–KCl–LiCl.