Mechanical and electrical properties of the ternary Cu-Ge-Pb and Cu-Ge-In alloys

Abstract

This study presents the results of experimental and analytical testing of the microstructure, hardness and electrical properties of selected triple Cu-Ge-Pb and CuGe-In systems. In the experimental part of the paper, alloys of selected compositions were prepared which were then examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brinell hardness measurements and electrical conductivity measurements. The phase diagram of equilibrium ternary systems was calculated using the Calphad method and the corresponding thermodynamic program Pandat ver. 8.1. The results include the calculated characteristic isothermal sections, structural characteristics, phase composition, mechanical properties and electrical conductivity for ternary Cu-Ge-Pb and Cu-Ge-In systems. Isothermal sections at 25 °C were extrapolated using optimized thermodynamic parameters from the literature. The experimentally obtained results were compared with the results of thermodynamic calculation of phase diagrams. A good general agreement was obtained between the experimental and calculated values. The hardness and electrical conductivity of the selected alloys were measured and using the appropriate mathematical model, these properties were predicted in the entire range of the composition.