Optimization and assessment of the Ag-Ca phase diagram

The Ag-Ca phase diagram was optimized and subsequently assessed. New data for the enthalpies of formation of the Ag9Ca2 and AgCa3 compounds were obtained by means of drop calorimetry. Differential Thermal Analysis experiments were also performed and the resulting concentration/transformation temperatures could be compared with the phase diagram. First principles calculations were performed leading to the Gibbs free energies of each compound as a function of temperature. Tentative structures with possibility of being stable were found for Ag5Ca and AgCa3 compounds. Finally, the CALPHAD method was used to assess the phase diagram as well as all the available results.