Reinvestigation of the Cd–Gd phase diagram

The complete Cd–Gd equilibrium phase diagram was investigated by a combination of powder-XRD, SEM and DTA. All previously reported phases, i.e., CdGd, Cd(2)Gd, Cd(3)Gd, Cd(45)Gd(11), Cd(58)Gd(13), and Cd(6)Gd, could be confirmed. In addition, a new intermetallic compound with a stoichiometric composition corresponding to “Cd(8)Gd” was found to exist. It was obtained that “Cd(8)Gd” decomposes peritectically at 465 °C. Homogeneity ranges of all intermetallic compounds were determined at distinct temperatures. In addition, the maximum solubilities of Cd in the low- and high-temperature modifications of Gd were determined precisely as 4.6 and 22.6 at.%, respectively. All invariant reaction temperatures (with the exception of the formation of Cd(58)Gd(13)) as well as liquidus temperatures were determined, most probably, Cd(58)Gd(13) is formed in a peritectoid reaction from Cd(45)Gd(11) and Cd(6)Gd at a temperature below 700 °C.