Intermetallics

Intermetallics or intermetallic compounds is a term that is used in a number of different ways. Most commonly it refers to solid state phases involving metals. There is a "research definition" adhered to generally in scientific publications, and a wider "common use" term. There is also a completely different use in coordination chemistry, where it has been used to refer to complexes containing two or more different metals.
Although the term intermetallic compounds, as it applies to solid phases, has been in use for many years, its introduction was regretted, for example by Hume-Rothery in 1955. ^[1].
Note that many intermetallic compounds are often simply called alloys, even though strictly speaking they are not. For example Complex metallic alloys are intermetallic compounds with large unit cells.

Additional recommended knowledge

Correct Test Weight Handling Guide: 12 Practical Tips

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Definitions

Research definition

This was stated by Schulze in 1967, ^[2] and defines intermetallic compounds as solid phases containing two or more metallic elements, with optionally one or more non metallic elements, whose structure is distinct from that of any of the constituents. Under this definition the following are included

• Electron (or Hume-Rothery) compounds
• Size packing phases. e.g. Laves phases, Frank-Kaspar phases and Nowotny phases
• Zintl phases

The definition of a metal is taken to include:

• the so-called poor metals, i.e. Aluminium, gallium, indium, thallium, tin and lead
• some, if not all, of the metalloids, e.g. silicon, germanium, arsenic antimony and tellurium.

Alloys, which are a homogeneous mixture of metals, and interstitial compounds such as the carbides and nitrides are excluded under this definition. However interstitial intermetallic compounds are included as are alloys of intermetallic compounds with a metal.

Common use

In common use the research definition, including poor metals and metalloids, is extended to include compounds such as cementite, Fe₃C. These compounds, sometimes termed interstitial compounds can be stoichiometric, and share similar properties to the intermetallic compounds defined above.

Complexes

The term intermetallic is used ^[3] to describe compounds involving two or more metals such as the cyclopentadienyl complex Cp₆Ni₂Zn₄.

Intermetallics involving two or more metallic elements

Intermetallic compounds are generally brittle and high melting. They often offer a compromise between ceramic and metallic properties when hardness and/or resistance to high temperatures is important enough to sacrifice some toughness and ease of processing. They can also display desirable magnetic, superconducting and chemical properties, due to their strong internal order and mixed (metallic and covalent/ionic) bonding, respectively. Intermetallics have given rise to various novel materials developments. Some examples include alnico and the hydrogen storage materials in nickel metal hydride batteries. Ni₃Al, which is the hardening phase in the familiar nickel-base superalloys, and the various titanium aluminides have also attracted interest for turbine blade applications, while the latter is also used in very small quantities for grain refinement of titanium alloys.

Properties and examples

• magnetic materials e.g. alnico; sendust; Permendur, FeCo
• superconductors e.g. A15 phases; Niobium-tin
• hydrogen storage e.g. AB₅ compounds (Nickel metal hydride batteries)
• shape memory alloys e.g. Cu-Al-Ni (alloys of Cu₃Al and nickel
• coating materials e.g. Nitinol, NiTi; NiAl
• high temperature structural materials e.g. nickel aluminide, Ni₃Al
• dental amalgams which are alloys of intermetallics Ag₃Sn and Cu₃Sn

The formation of intermetallics can cause problems, Intermetallics of gold and aluminium are a significant cause of wire bond failures in semiconductor devices and other microelectronics devices. There are five of them. AuAl₂ is known as "purple plague". Au₅Al₂ is known as "white plague".

History

Examples of intermetallics through history include:

• Roman yellow brass, CuZn
• Chinese high tin bronze, Cu₃₁Sn₈
• type metal SbSn

German type metal is described as breaking like glass, not bending, softer than copper but more fusible than lead. ^[4]. The chemical formula does not agree with the one above however the properties match with an intermetallic compound or an alloy of one.

References

• Intermetallics, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim 1995, 165 pages
• Intermetallics, Gerhard Sauthoff, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley Interscience. (Subscription required)

1. ^ Electrons, atoms, metals and alloys W. Hume-Rothery Publisher: The Louis Cassier Co. Ltd 1955
2. ^ G. E. R. Schulze: Metallphysik, Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1967
3. ^ Cotton, F. Albert; Wilkinson, Geoffrey; Murillo, Carlos A.; Bochmann, Manfred (1999). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (6th Edn.) New York:Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-19957-5.
4. ^ [1] Type-pounding The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge By Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain), George Long Published 1843

See also

• Alloy
• Superalloy
• Maraging steel
• Kirkendall effect
• Complex metallic alloys