Isothermal section of the Pt–Sb–Te system at 1000 °C

The phase relations in the system Pt–Sb–Te have been investigated at 1000 °C, using sealed glass capsule techniques. The reaction products have been studied by reflected light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis. At 1000 °C, Pt, PtSb, PtSb2, Pt3Te4, and PtTe2 are the stable solid phases. There are two liquid phase fields: a large field extends across the ternary system from the Pt–Sb join to the Pt–Te join, the other as a thin strip near the Sb–Te join. PtSb becomes Pt-poor up to 3 at.% from stoichiometry as substitution of Te for Sb and Pt increases. PtSb2 and PtTe2 exhibit the largest solid solution range among the solid phases present.