The isothermal section at 400 degrees C of the Yb-Ag-Sn ternary system

The Yb-Ag-Sn isothermal section at 400 degreesC has been investigated by me ans of X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy and elec tron probe microanalysis. The following ternary compounds have been identif ied or confirmed: tau (1)similar to Yb25Ag50Sn25, tau (2)similar to Yb50Ag2 5Sn25 to Yb46Ag24Sn30, tau (3) similar to Yb19Ag50Sn31, tau (4)similar to Y bAgSn. Moreover a phase tau (x)similar to Yb50Ag35Sn15, not definitively co nfirmed, has been observed in a few samples. A subdivision of the compositi on triangle into tie-triangles has been obtained. The general characteristi cs of the section have been discussed in comparison with those of other R-A g-Sn systems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.