Phase equilibria in the palladium-rich part of the Pd–Au–Cu–Sn quaternary system

Abstract

The solubility of tin in the phases of Pd–Au–Sn and Pd–Cu–Sn ternary systems and a Pd–Au–Cu–Sn quaternary system with a fixed Pd: Au: Cu ratio of 11.1: 1: 4.6 is studied via microstructural, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive analysis. It is found that a quaternary alloy in equilibrium with a solid solution based on Pd, Au, and Sn contains a τ1 compound with structure which is derivative of the In type. It contains ~15 at % Sn and is a solid solution of the same compounds identified earlier in Pd–Au–Sn and Pd–Cu–Sn ternary systems. In addition, a quaternary alloy with a content of 20 at % Sn also contains a τ2 compound with the Pd2CuSn own type and can barely dissolve gold. The obtained data are used to construct a three-dimensional model of the Pd-rich part of the isothermal tetrahedron of the Pd–Au–Cu–Sn system and diagrams of the tin solubility isolines in palladium-rich alloys of the quaternary system at 500°С.