Mechanical and electrical properties of the Bi-Ge-Sn alloys

Abstract

Mechanical and electrical properties of the ternary Bi-Ge-Sn alloys were investigated in this study. Calculation of isothermal section at 200, 300 and 25 ºC was carried out by using optimized thermodynamic parameters for the constitutive binary systems. Microstructures of alloys were observed by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Phases in microstructures have been detected by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and compositions of the phasis by energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). ANOVA analysis and using obtained results an appropriate mathematical model is proposed for every composition of alloys. The Brinell hardness and electrical conductivity of selected alloys were measured and obtained results were analyzed with respect to their overall compositions and phase constituents. Based on all the obtained experimental and calculated results, it was concluded that a general good agreement was obtained between them.