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Solidification microstructures in Ag3Sn–Cu3Sn pseudo-binary alloys

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Abstract

The solidification microstructures in three alloys from the Ag3Sn–Cu3Sn pseudo-binary section in the Ag–Cu–Sn system have been studied using a combination of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and quenching experiments. The three alloys have Ag:Cu ratios of 50:50, 40:60, and 30:70. In each case, the as-cast structures exhibit the equilibrium phases θ-Ag3Sn and ε1-Cu3Sn, with a little η-Cu6Sn5. There is no evidence of the metastable high-temperature phases that are so prevalent in as-cast structures of the corresponding binary alloys. The differential scanning calorimetry data obtained on heating the alloy samples are consistent with the transformations expected on the basis of the published ternary Ag–Cu–Sn diagrams. It is proposed that the solidification microstructures observed experimentally in such alloys must correspond to the nucleation of the high-temperature phases being kinetically limited upon cooling for these compositions. This leads to the direct formation of the equilibrium low-temperature phases by eutectic-type co-operative growth.

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Notes

  1. It is important to note that the conventions used to define the axes in the D0a and long-period polymorphs are different. Thus, the b axis of the long-period structure lies parallel to c in the conventional description of the D0a structure, and b0 (superstructure) ≈ 10 c 0 (D0a).

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Acknowledgements

The microscopy studies were performed in the UConn/FEI Center for Advanced Microscopy and Materials Analysis (CAMMA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Unit 3136, 97 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, 06269-3136, USA

    Haibo Yu, Yu Sun, S. Pamir Alpay & Mark Aindow

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  1. Haibo Yu
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Correspondence to Mark Aindow.

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Yu, H., Sun, Y., Pamir Alpay, S. et al. Solidification microstructures in Ag3Sn–Cu3Sn pseudo-binary alloys. J Mater Sci 51, 6474–6487 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-9947-y

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