Experimental investigation and thermodynamic prediction of the Au-Cu-Sb phase diagram

Abstract

Phase diagram of the ternary Au-Cu-Sb system was investigated experimentally by DTA and SEM-EDS methods and analytically by CALPHAD method. The liquids projection, invariant equilibrium, several vertical sections and isothermal section at 300 degrees C were predicted using COST 531 thermodynamic database. Phase transition temperatures of alloys along four predicted vertical sections of the Au-Cu-Sb ternary system with molar ratios Au:Cu = 1, Cu:Sb = 1, Au:Sb = 1 and x(Au) = 0.2 were measured by DTA (differential thermal analysis). Predicted isothermal section at 300 degrees C was compared with the results of the SEM (scanning electron microscope) with EDS (energy dispersive spectrometry) analysis from this work This Au-Cu-Sb system belongs to the group of gold alloys, as potential candidates for new lead-free solder materials.