Microstructures and coherent phase diagram for the pseudobinary system (AuCu)1−xPdx with x ≤ 0.10

A coherent phase diagram for the pseudobinary system (AuCu)1−xPdx with x ≤ 0.10 was constructed based on phase identification and microstructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy. It was confirmed that the addition of palladium exceeding 1.0 at.% to the equiatomic AuCu eliminated the AuCu II long-period superstructure from the phase equilibria and stabilized the AuCu I superstructure. The AuCu-0.5 at.% Pd and AuCu-1.0 at.% Pd alloys isothermally aged for long time at temperatures ranging from 380 to 420 °C exhibited seven distinguishable regions; a single-phase region of disordered solid solution (α); a single-phase region of AuCu I ordered phase; a single-phase region of AuCu II ordered phase; a region of the coexisting AuCu I and AuCu II ordered phases; a region of the coexisting AuCu I ordered and α phases; a region of the coexisting AuCu II ordered and α phases; and a region of the coexisting AuCu I and AuCu II ordered and α phases.