Phase Relations in the Tl9TbTe6-Tl9BiTe6 System and Some Properties of Solid Solutions

By using X-ray powder diffraction and differential thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy technique and microhardness measurements the phase equilibria in the Tl9TbTe6-Tl9BiTe6 system were investigated. According to the obtained experimental results the T-x diagram and concentration dependence of the cell parameters and microhardness of alloys of the Tl9TbTe6-Tl9BiTe6 system were constructed. It is shown that the system is not quasi-binary due to the peritectic melting of Tl9TbTe6, but stable below the solidus. In the system, it is found to be continuous solid solutions with Tl5Te3 structure. These phases may be of interest to thermoelectric and magnetic materials.