The topology of phase diagrams of ternary molten salt systems

Abstract

Phase diagrams of simple ternary reciprocal salt systems are compared with calculations from recent statistical mechanical theories. The major topological features are predicted from the theory. The comparison of theory with experimental phase diagrams gives an insight into the fundamental ionic interactions which lead to particular topological features. A theoretical expression for predicting miscibility gaps in these systems is shown to provide a fundamental explanation of the empirical rules deduced by previous workers. Certain regions of composition in additive (ordinary) ternary systems are analogous to reciprocal systems and the analogy helps in understanding some of the topological properties of these additive ternary systems including miscibility gaps within the ternary composition triangle.