Thermodynamic calculations and characterization of the Bi–Ga–In ternary alloys

Abstract

Microstructure and phase transitions of the selected alloys of the ternary Bi–Ga–In system were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA).Experimentally obtained results were compared with the results of thermodynamic extrapolation of the Bi–Ga–In ternary phase diagram. Experimentally detected coexisting phases in the investigated ternary alloys were in agreement with corresponding predicted phase structures at room temperature. Phase transition temperatures of selected ternary alloys with compositions along three vertical sections Bi0.5In0.5–Ga, Bi0.5Ga0.5–In and In0.5Ga0.5–Bi were measured using DTA and several invariant reactions were identified. Hardness of selected alloys was determined using Vickers microhardness test and Brinell hardness test. Calculated liquidus projection and invariant equilibria of the Bi–Ga–In ternary system were presented.