Phase equilibria of the Au–Sn–Zn ternary system and interfacial reactions in Sn–Zn/Au couples

Phase equilibria of the Au–Sn–Zn ternary system and interfacial reactions between Sn–Zn alloys and Au were experimentally investigated at 160 °C. Experimental results reveal that no equilibrium-stated ternary phases were found and the ternary element solubility in the binary phase is insignificant. When the Zn content was less than 3 wt% in the Sn–Zn alloy, only the Au–Sn binary intermetallic compounds (IMCs), such as AuSn, AuSn2 and AuSn4 phases, were formed at the Sn–Zn/Au interface. When the Zn content in Sn–Zn alloys was greater than 7 wt%, the AuZn, AuZn2 and Au3Zn7 phases were formed in the Sn–Zn/Au couples at 160 °C. However, both Sn–Zn and Au–Zn IMCs, and the Au–Zn–Sn ternary IMC (T phase) were observed between Au and the Sn–Zn alloys with 3–5 wt% added Zn. This T phase might be the metastable phase. The evolution of IMCs in the Sn–Zn/Au couples is very sensitive to the Zn content in Sn–Zn alloys.