PHASE RELATIONS IN THE SYSTEM PD-SB-TE

Phase relations in the system Pd-Sb-Te were investigated at 1000^o, 800^o, and 600^oC, using the sealed capsule technique. The quenched products were studied by reflected light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron micriprobe analysis. At 1000^oC, palladium, Pd₂₀Sb₇, mertieite II, stibiopalladinite, and Pd₅Sb₂ are stable solid phases. At 800^oC, sudburyite, Pd₅Sb₃, Pd₇Te₃, together with two complete solid solutions, Pd₂₀Sb₇-Pd₂₀Te₃ and Pd₈Sb₃-Pd₈Te₃ occur additionally. At 600^oC, merenskyite, tellurantimony, sudburyite, kotulskite appear as stable phases.X-ray diffraction data show the synthetic PdSb₂ phase to be cubic, probably with space group P2₁3. Testibiopalladite, ideally PdSbTe, may be a member of the PdSb₂-Pd(Sb_0.32Te_0.68)₂ solid solution series. Borovskite has not been found in the synthetic system.