Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modeling of the Al-Cu-Si system

16 ternary alloys located over the entire composition range of the Al-Cu-Si system are investigated by means of XRD, SEM/EDX and DTA. The phase equilibria associated with the kappa phase of the Cu-Si system are determined in detail and the isothermal sections at 600 and 500 degrees C are experimentally constructed. No ternary phase is observed at 600 or 500 degrees C. A thorough thermodynamic modeling for this system is then conducted based on the critically reassessed literature data and the present experimental results. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.