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Experimental work on the niobium-tin constitution diagram and related studies

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Abstract

Three intermetallic phases Nb3Sn, Nb6Sn5 and NbSn2 are formed in the niobium-tin system. Nb6Sn5 and NbSn2 appear to be stoichiometric with narrow homogeneity range, but Nb3Sn can exist over a wide composition range from about 73 to 83 at. % niobium although the niobium-rich compositions are not formed on annealing below 1400° C. Nb6Sn5 and NbSn2 form peritectically at 930 and 845° C respectively. The three phases appear to be stable to low temperatures, but Nb3Sn and Nb6Sn5 are slow to form below about 800° C. The solubility of niobium in liquid tin is small at temperatures below 1000° C and the solid solubility of tin in niobium decreases from about 9 at. % tin at the peritectic temperature of Nb3Sn to about 1 at. % tin at 1495° C and is negligible below 1000° C. An equilibrium diagram is constructed from the present data and from other published information.

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  1. Solid State Division, AERE, Harwell, Didcot, Berks

    J. P. Charlesworth, I. Macphail & P. E. Madsen

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  1. J. P. Charlesworth
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  2. I. Macphail
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  3. P. E. Madsen
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Charlesworth, J.P., Macphail, I. & Madsen, P.E. Experimental work on the niobium-tin constitution diagram and related studies. J Mater Sci 5, 580–603 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00554367

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