Bismuth – Antimony – Tin

Aleš Kroupa, Marie-Christine Record, Hai-Lin Chen, Ondrej Zobac

Introduction

The ternary Bi-Sb-Sn system has versatile practical applications, it is especially popular in recent years. There is only limited number of studies of existing phases, phase equilibria and thermodynamics of the system as most of the literature is oriented towards practical applications of particular Bi-Sb-Sn alloys e.g. for lead-free solders, thermoelectric materials and batteries [1997Hua, 2002Tri, 2008Li, 2009Hor, 2011Esf] (Table 1). The phases, phase relations and thermodynamics of the system were studied as early as in 1904 by [1904Cam], followed by several experimental papers by [1953Vog, 1974Vec]. Further studies based mainly on the combination of experimental and theoretical approaches started in nineties, especially because of importance of this system for the development of lead-free solders. The phase diagrams...