Experimental determination of the phase relations of the Sm–Fe–B ternary system at 973 K

• The αFe17Sm2, Fe3Sm, Fe2Sm, Sm2B5, SmB4, SmB6, SmB66, Fe2B and FeB exist at 973 K.
• The existence of the phases Sm2Fe14B, SmFeB4 and Sm17(Fe4B4)15 is observed at 973 K.
• The isothermal section of the Sm–Fe–B system at 973 K is determined experimentally.

The phase relations of the Sm–Fe–B ternary system at 973 K have been determined experimentally in this study by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectroscopy techniques. This tentative isothermal section includes 15 single-phase regions, 30 two-phase regions, and 16 three-phase regions. The phases αFe17Sm2, Fe3Sm, Fe2Sm, Sm2B5, SmB4, SmB6, SmB66, Fe2B and FeB are confirmed to exist at 973 K. The existence of the only three ternary phases Sm2Fe14B, SmFeB4 and Sm17(Fe4B4)15 is observed.