Experimental investigation and thermodynamic calculations of the Cu-In-Ni phase diagram

Phase diagram of the Cu-In-Ni ternary system was investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) methods. Experimentally obtained results were compared with the results of thermodynamic calculation of phase equilibria based on calculation of phase diagram (CALPHAD) method and literature data. Phase transition temperatures of alloys with overall compositions along three selected vertical sections Cu-In0.5Ni0.5, Cu-In0.8Ni0.2 and x(In) = 0.4 were measured by DTA. Liquidus temperatures were experimentally determined and compared with the results of thermodynamic calculation. Identification of coexisting phases in samples equilibrated at 400 °C and 500 °C was carried out using SEM-EDS and XRD methods. Obtained results were compared with the calculated isothermal sections of the Cu-In-Ni ternary system at corresponding temperatures. Calculated liquidus projection and invariant equilibria of the Cu-In-Ni ternary system were presented.