Relative Solubility Trends in Transition-Metal Alloys

ABSTRACTThe prediction of terminal solubilities for a given metal solute and solvent is a formidable problem, and it remains a major unsolved question in metallurgy. In this paper we describe the relative solubilities of the transition metals in one another. After discussing the problem of defining an appropriate measure of solubility for the transition-metal alloys which have any intermediate phases, we present a map of relative solubilities for the transition metals. From this map, we delineate the trend which occurs. Both the Engel-Brewer theory and d-band transition-metal alloy theory are consistent with this trend.