Isothermal section at 600 °C of the Yb-Pd-Sn system (Pd <= 75 at.%)

Phase equilibria in the YbPdSn ternary system at 600 C were established in the Pd 75 at.% concentration range employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA). Besides the known intermetallic compounds, three new ternary intermetallics were revealed in the system, together with homogeneity ranges into the ternary field for some binary phases. Magnetic properties for the new compounds were investigated revealing stable Yb states Yb3þ for Yb3Pd4Sn13 and Yb2þ for Yb5Pd39Sn56, whereas for Yb13Pd40Sn31 an unstable valency of Yb is suggested.