Spinel Phase Relations in the Fe3O4–CuFe2O4 System

Phase equilibria involving spinel solid solutions, delafossite, and hematite in the Fe–Cu–O system are studied by emf measurements in solid-electrolyte galvanic cells. The results demonstrate that, above 1250 K, Fe3O4 and CuFe2O4 form a continuous series of solid solutions. At lower temperatures, the solid solution disproportionates with the formation of delafossite and Fe2O3, and two spinel solid solutions appear: one based on Fe3O4 and the other based on Cu2FeO4. The compositions of the spinel phases in equilibrium with delafossite and Fe2O3 are determined in the range 1100–1250 K.