Abstract
Some investigators assumed the formation of BiSn7, Bi2Sn or BiSn2 in the solid of the alloys of the Bi-Sn system. To verify the formation of the intermetallic compound and to clarify the nature of the change in the solid state of this alloy system, the present study was carried out by differential thermal analysis, volumetric dilatation method, electrical resistance method, X-ray analysis and microscopic examination. In the curves of differential thermal analysis no discontinuities were observed, while in electrical resistance and volumetric dilatation curves one or two were observed. From these results, the solubility curve of Bi in Sn-solid solution was determined (Fig. 10). X-ray analysis by Seemann-Bohlin's method denied the existence of any intermetallic compound in this system. So the discontinuity appeared at about 95° in the curves of electrical resistance and volumetric dilatation is due to the abrupt change in solubility of Bi in Sn-solid solution, and not to the formation of any compound.
