The Ni-rich part of the Al–Ge–Ni phase diagram

The Ni-rich part of the ternary system Al–Ge–Ni (x(Ni) > 50 at.%) was investigated by means of optical microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The two isothermal sections at 550 °C and 700 °C were determined. Within these two sections a new ternary phase, designated as τ4, Al(y)Ge(9−y)Ni(13±x) (hP66, Ga(3)Ge(6)Ni(13)-type) was detected and investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Another ternary low temperature phase, τ5, was found only in the isothermal section at 550 °C around the composition AlGeNi(4). This compound was found to crystallise in the Co(2)Si type structure (oP12, Pnma). The structure was identified by Rietveld refinement of powder data. The NiAs type (B8) phase based on binary Ge(3)Ni(5) revealed an extended solid solubility of Al and the two isotypic compounds AlNi(3) and GeNi(3) form a complete solid solution. Based on DTA results, six vertical sections at 55, 60, 70, 75 and 80 at.% Ni and at a constant Al:Ni ratio of 1:3 were constructed. Furthermore, the liquidus surface projection and the reaction scheme (Scheil diagram) were completed by combining our results with previous results from the Ni-poor part of the phase diagram. Six invariant ternary reactions were identified in the Ni-rich part of the system.