By
Riccardo Ferro, Universita di Genova, Italy
Adriana Saccone, Universita di Genova, Italy
Description
Intermetallic science is closely related to physics, chemistry, metallurgy, materials science & technology, and engineering. This book
emphasizes the chemical aspects of this science, and therefore the mutual reactivity of metals and the characteristics of intermetallic
compounds. Topics included are:
• Phase diagrams of alloy systems. Many intermetallic systems form several compounds, generally not
obeying common simple stoichiometric rules, which are often homogeneous in a certain range of compositions. The stability and extension
of these phases are conveniently presented through phase diagrams.
• Selected aspects of intermetallics structural chemistry, with emphasis
on the solid state. The general structural characteristics of intermetallic phases are considered, with attention to nomenclature and
to alternative and complementary methods of presenting crystal-chemical data. A brief account is given of derivative and degenerate structures,
modular aspects of crystal structures, and of a few special groups of alloys such as quasicrystals and amorphous alloys. A number of
selected structural prototypes with typical features, their possible grouping in structural “families” and their distribution among different
types of alloys are provided.
• Intermetallic reactivity trends in the Periodic Table. Attention is given to a few selected elemental
parameters such as electron configuration and valence electron number and to their changes along the Table, which act as reference factors
of the intermetallic behaviour. As an example, the relationships are considered between crystal structure and the number of valence electrons
per atom (or per formula) in various classes of compounds or solid solution phases.
• Alloying behaviour systematics of intermetallic
systems with a description of the intermetallic reactivity of each element, or group of elements, in the order of their position in the
Periodic Table. For each pair of metallic elements, their capability to form intermediate phases is summarised by maps and schemes.
• A description of small scale preparation methods of intermetallics. A number of interesting and significant peculiarities are, e.g.,
those related to their high melting points, insolubility in common solvents, etc.
Included in series
Pergamon Materials Series
Audience:
Students and researchers studying in Chemistry (inorganic or solid state chemistry), Metallurgy and Materials Science and Technology
