Phase transitions in zirconium–palladium alloys

Abstract

A statistical theory of zirconium–palladium alloys has been developed with allowance for the formation of amorphous, icosahedral, and crystalline phases. The free energies are calculated. The phase diagram near the stoichiometric composition of the Zr₂Pd alloy has been constructed. The structural phase transitions are studied. The possibility of formation of various spin orders on the sites of zirconium and palladium atoms is found. The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the alloy is constructed, and the heat capacity jumps at the Curie points are estimated. The theoretical results are compared to experimental data.