The isothermal section at 400°C of the Nd-Cu-Sn ternary system

The Nd-Cu-Sn isothermal section at 400 degrees C has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. The following compounds have been identified or confirmed: NdCu5Sn, Nd7Cu35Sn11, NdCu9Sn4, NdCuSn, Nd3Cu4Sn4, NdCu2Sn2, Nd2Cu3Sn6 and NdCu1-gammaSn2, and their crystal structure have been determined or revised. Single crystal structure determination of the phases Nd7Cu35Sn11 and Nd3Cu4Sn4 and full profile powder refinement of the compound Nd2Cu3Sn6, previously suggested as Nd2Cu4Sn5, are also given. The subdivision of the composition triangle in tie triangles has been nearly completed. Of the predicted 36 three-phase equilibria, thirty have been defined. The general characteristics of the section have been discussed in comparison with those of other R-Cu-Sn systems formed by light rare earths (R = Ce, Pr). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.