The phase relationships in the Gd–Ti–Sn ternary system at 473 K and the new compound GdSn4Ti6

The phase relationships in the Gd–Ti–Sn ternary system at 473 K have been investigated mainly by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Twelve binary compounds, i.e. Gd5Sn3, Gd5Sn4, Gd11Sn10, GdSn2, Gd3Sn7, Gd4Sn11, GdSn3, Ti3Sn, Ti2Sn, Ti5Sn3, Ti6Sn5 and Ti2Sn3 were confirmed. A new ternary compound GdSn4Ti6 was found with space group R3¯m and lattice parameters a = 0.57857 nm, and c = 2.27976 nm (Gd occupying the 3a positions, Sn occupying the two 6c positions and Ti occupying the 18h positions). The isothermal section of the Gd–Ti–Sn ternary system at 473 K consists of 16 single-phase regions, 30 two-phase regions and 15 three-phase regions.