The Role of Valence Electron Concentration on the Structure and Properties of Rapidly Solidified Sn-Ag Binary Alloys

M. Kamal, A. B. El-Bediwi, T. El-Ashram, M. E. Dorgham

Metal Physics Lab., Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2012.33028                

Abstract

A group of binary Sn-xAg alloys (x = 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 wt%) has been produced by a single copper roller melt-spinning technique. In this study the interaction between Fermi sphere and Brillouin zone and Hume-Rothery condition of phase stability have been verified. It is found that by increasing valence electron concentration VEC the diameter of Fermi sphere 2k_F increases which leads to the increase in the diameter of Brillouin zone which arises from the decrease in volume of the unit cell. It is found that the electrical resistivity increases by increasing VEC due to the decrease in relaxation time τ with increasing VEC. Also it has been confirmed that the correlation between Young’s modulus and the axial ratio c/a of β-Sn unit cell.

Keywords

Alloys; Rapid Solidification; Valence Electron Concentration; Resistivity; Young’s Modulus; Fermi Energy; Brillouin Zone

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	W. Hume-Rothery, “Research on the Nature, Properties and Conditions of Formation of Intermetallic Compounds, with Special Reference to Certain Compounds of Tin,” Journal Institute of Metals, Vol. 35, 1926, pp. 295-299.
[2]	G. V. Raynor and J. A. Lee, “The Tin-Rich Intermediate Phases in the Alloys of Tin with Cadmium, Indium and Mercury,” Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 2, No. 4, 1954, pp. 616-620. doi:10.1016/0001-6160(54)90197-2
[3]	R. H. Kane, B. C. Giessen and N. J. Grant, “New Metastable Phases in Binary Tin Alloy Systems,” Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 14, No. 5, 1966, pp. 605-609. doi:10.1016/0001-6160(66)90068-X
[4]	T. El-Ashram, “The Relation between Valency, Axial Ratio, Young’s Modulus and Resistivity of Rapidly Solidified Tin-Based Eutectic Alloys,” Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, Vol. 16, 2005, pp. 501-505. doi:10.1007/s10854-005-2724-3
[5]	K. Schubert, U. Roseler, W. Mahler, E. Doerre and W. Schuett, “Strukturuntersuchungen an Einigen Valenzelektronen-Armen Legierungen Zwischen B-Metallen,” Z. Metallk, Vol. 45, 1954, pp. 643-647.
[6]	A.-P. Tsai, “Decagonal Structure of Al72Ni20Co8 Studied by Atomic-Resolution Electron Microscopy,” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Vol. 334-335, 2004, pp. 317-322. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2003.11.038
[7]	M. Kamal, A. B. El-Bediwi and T. El-Ashram, “The Effect of Rapid Solidification on the Structure, Decomposition Behavior, Electrical and Mechanical Properties of the Sn-Cd Binary Alloys,” Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2004, pp. 211-217. doi:10.1023/B:JMSE.0000012457.77041.c6
[8]	Y. A. Geller and A. G. Rakhshtadt, “Science of Materials,” Mir Publishers, Moscow, 1977.
[9]	E. Schreiber, O. L. Anderson and N. Soga, “Elastic Constants, and Their Measurements,” McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., New York, 1973.
[10]	M. Hansen and K. Anderko, “Constitution of Binary Alloys,” 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., New York, 1958.
[11]	T. El-Ashram, “Structure and Properties of Rapidly Solidified Pure Tin,” Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids, Vol. 161, No. 3, 2006, pp.193-197. doi:10.1080/10420150500485192