Phase relationships in the {Ho, Er}-Ni-Sn ternary systems at 673Â K and crystal structure of new ternary compounds

The phase equilibria of the Ho-Ni-Sn and Er-Ni-Sn ternary systems were studied at 673 K in the whole concentration range using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray powder diffraction (XPD). Each system is characterized by formation of eight ternary compounds at 673 K: Ho6Ni2Sn, Er6Ni2Sn (Ho6Ni2Ga-type), Ho2Ni2Sn, Er2Ni2Sn (Mo2FeB2-type), HoNi5Sn, ErNi5Sn (CeCu4.38In1.62-type), HoNi1.73Sn, ErNi1.72Sn (YbNi1.705Sn-type), HoNiSn, ErNiSn (TiNiSi-type), HoNiSn2, ErNiSn2 (LuNiSn2-type), HoNiSn4, ErNiSn4 (LuNiSn4-type), and Ho2NiSn6, Er2NiSn6 (Lu2NiSn6-type). The interstitial solid solutions HoNixSn2 (up to 7 at.% Ni) and ErNixSn2 (up to 5 at.% Ni) based on the RSn2 (ZrSi2-type) binary compounds were found.