Structure and stability of Laves phases part II—structure type variations in binary and ternary systems

Laves phases with their comparably simple crystal structure are very common intermetallic phases and can be formed from element combinations all over the periodic table resulting in a huge number of known examples. Even though this type of phases is known for almost 100 years, and although a lot of information on stability, structure, and properties has accumulated especially during the last about 20 years, systematic evaluation and rationalization of this information in particular as a function of the involved elements is often lacking. It is one of the two main goals of this review to summarize the knowledge for some selected respective topics with a certain focus on non-stoichiometric, i.e., non-ideal Laves phases. The second, central goal of the review is to give a systematic overview about the role of Laves phases in all kinds of materials for functional and structural applications. There is a surprisingly broad range of successful utilization of Laves phases in functional applications comprising Laves phases as hydrogen storage material (Hydraloy), as magneto-mechanical sensors and actuators (Terfenol), or for wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings in corrosive atmospheres and at high temperatures (Tribaloy), to name but a few. Regarding structural applications, there is a renewed interest in using Laves phases for creep-strengthening of high-temperature steels and new respective alloy design concepts were developed and successfully tested. Apart from steels, Laves phases also occur in various other kinds of structural materials sometimes effectively improving properties, but often also acting in a detrimental way.

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Laves phases: a review of their functional and structural applications and an improved fundamental understanding of stability and properties

Ternary Zr-Nb-Fe(O) system: phase diagram at 853 K and corrosion behaviour in the domain Nb < 0.8%

Corrosion behavior and oxide properties of Zr-1.1 wt%Nb-0.05 wt%Cu alloy

The isothermal sections of the Mg-Al-Ca ternary system at 773 and 673 K were determined by phase analysis with electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The C36 phase exists between the C14 (Mg2Ca) and C15 (Al2Ca) phases, and its stoichiometry is close to Mg2Al4Ca3. The α-Mg phase equilibrates with the C14 and C36 phases at 773 K, but with C14, C15, and β phases at 673 K, due to the decomposition of the C36 phase into C14 and C15 phases. These intermetallic phases have significant solid-solubility in the ternary system.

M Canay

Papers

Experimental investigation of the Zr corner of the ternary Zr–Nb–Fe phase diagram