Abstract
IT is the purpose of this note to point out how rapidly and efficiently ternary equilibrium diagrams may be elucidated by means of X-ray analysis. In a recent paper, Jette1 described a partial analysis of the chromium-iron-silicon system by X-rays. We have carried out the analysis of several ternary diagrams which will be published shortly. As an example, we give the diagram for the copper-nickel-aluminium system, the compositions being represented in the usual way by points within an equilateral triangle. Any one such diagram shows the phases at a given temperature, and a series of such diagrams is required to represent the state of affairs at different temperatures. The present diagram actually shows the phases present after a uniform heat treatment of slow cooling at 10° C. per hour. No claim is made that equilibrium has been established, our main object being to show the exploratory power of X-ray analysis. It will be supposed that the binary equilibrium diagrams, represented by the three sides of the triangle, have previously been established by metallurgical or X-ray methods. It is our experience that the investigation of the whole interior of the ternary diagram is, in general, easier than that of a single complicated binary system, since for the most part the phases are the same as those of the binaries. In other words, the appearance of quite a new phase is comparatively rare ; we merely have to determine how far the two-component phases extend into areas of the ternary diagram.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen, A. G. H., and Jette, Eric R., Trans. Amer. Soc. Metals, 24 (2), 375–419 (1936).
Bradley, A. J., Inst. Met., 4, part 4, 222 (April, 1937); Haughton, J. L., J. Inst. Met., 4, part 2, 79 (Feb., 1937).
Bingham, K. E., and Haughton, J. L., J. Inst. Met., 29, 71 (1923).
Laves, F., Löhberg, K., und Witte, H., Metallwirtschaft, 14, Heft 40, 793–794 (Oct., 1935); Laves, F., und Witte, H., Metallwirtschaft, 15, Heft 36, 840–842 (Sept., 1936).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BRADLEY, A., GOLDSCHMIDT, H., LIPSON, H. et al. Investigation of Equilibrium Diagrams of Ternary Alloys by X-Rays. Nature 140, 543–544 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/140543a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/140543a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.