Experimental investigations of the Ag–Cu–Ge system

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 630; pp. 84 - 93
• Main Authors: Akhmetova, A.M., Dinsdale, A.T., Khvan, A.V., Cheverikin, V.V., Kondratyev, A.V., Ivanov, D.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.05.2015
• Subjects: Ag–Cu–Ge system; ANNEALING PROCESSES; Close packed lattices; Copper; DTA analysis; EPMA analysis; Eutectic reactions; Germanium; INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS; LATTICES (CRYSTAL); Liquidus projection; Phase diagram; Phase diagrams; Quenching from the liquid–solid state; Silver; SOLIDIFICATION; Solubility; X RAY DIFFRACTION; Ag–Cu–Ge system; EPMA analysis; DTA analysis; Phase diagram; Liquidus projection; Quenching from the liquid–solid state
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.01.028

•The Ag–Cu–Ge system was studied using microstructural analysis, XRD and DTA.•Solidification paths of 14 alloys were investigated.•The liquidus projection derived from this work differs from previous studies.•Isothermal sections at 763, 793, 863 and 923K were constructed.•Some solubility of silver in the binary Cu–Ge intermetallic compounds was observed. Microstructural, XRD and DTA analysis of samples covering a range of compositions was carried out on cast and annealed samples in order to investigate phase equilibria in the Ag–Cu–Ge system. The results of the research work suggest the presence of a eutectic reaction L↔(Ag)+ε+hcp instead of a quasi-peritectic reaction described by Dutkiewicz and Massalski. A larger extension of the (Ag) primary solidification region toward the Cu–Ge side of the phase diagram with Ge contents lower than 20at.% and the extension of the ε phase primary solidification field toward (Ag) were observed in the present work. An EPMA analysis showed that there is limited solubility of Ag in the intermetallic phases of the Cu–Ge system.