THERMODYNAMIC EVALUATION OF THE MG-CU-O SYSTEM

A thermodynamic evaluation of the ternary Mg-Cu-O system has been made and a set of parameters consistently describing the system has been d etermined. Guggenite is the only ternary solid phase within the system and its stoichiometry is close to MgCu2O3. The MgO phase can dissolve considerable amount of CuO and is described with a simple model which allows Mg2+ Substitution by Cu2+. Phase diagrams are given for the Mg O-CuOx stem at 0.21 and I bar oxygen partial pressures as well as a po tential diagram. An isothermal section at 1423 K is also presented. Av ailable experimental data we rather limited and most of them are well described by the calculation. There are still uncertainties on the CuO solubility in MgO and on-the Cu1+/Cu2+ ratio present in MgO.