A contribution to the Ru–Sn system

The liquidus in the system Ru–Sn (35–90 at.% Sn) was experimentally determined by the spot technique in the temperature range 1173–1773 K. The liquidus in the tin rich region (90–100 at.% Sn) was determined by a new technique called the ‘illuminated spot technique’ in the temperature range 600–1823 K. The utility of this technique in the determination of steep liquidus boundaries was also demonstrated. The peritectic melting temperatures of the compounds Ru3Sn7 and Ru2Sn3 were also determined using the spot technique to be (1538±4) and (1549±10) K, respectively. A monotectic equilibrium was identified ((1570±7) K, ≃37 at.% Sn). The eutectic at (503±1) K in the tin rich region (>98 at.% Sn) was measured using simultaneous differential thermal analysis. From the results obtained by high-temperature X-ray diffraction experiments, the compound RuSn2 was found to decompose between 1348 and 1448 K.