The isothermal section of the La–Cu–Sn ternary system at 473K

Abstract

Abstract The phase relationships in the La–Cu–Sn ternary system at 473 K have been investigated mainly by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The existences of 11 binary compounds and 5 other ternary compounds have been confirmed. A new ternary compound CuLa 3 Sn 4 (space group: Cmcm , a = 0.898744 nm, b = 0.448905 nm, and c = 0.778637 nm) was found. The results show that this isothermal section consists of 20 single-phase regions, 43 two-phase regions and 24 three-phase regions. The maximum solid solubility of Cu in Cu 2 LaSn 2 and CuLa 3 Sn 4 is about 7 at.% Cu and 6.6 at.% Cu, respectively.