LI-Rb

K-Zr
Table I LI-Rb Crystal Structure and Lattice Parameter Data
Comp(mltion, Peanon Space Strukturbericht Lattice parameterg, nm
Phase at.% R b symbol group designation Prototype a e Comment

t a L l ) .............
-- 0 hP2 P63/mmc A3 Mg 0.3111 0.5093 <75 K
( ~ L i ) ............. - 0 cI2 Imam A2 W 0.35093 ... 2 5 °C
(Rb) .............. ~ 100 cI2 Imgm A2 W 0.5703 ... 2 5 °C

and they have similar large atomic radii (0.2808 and
0.3024 nm) in comparison to Li (0.1728 nm). In addi-
tion, they have similar melting points (39.22 and 28.44
°C) and similar boiling points (688 and 697 °C).
The Li-Rb phase diagram of Fig. 1 was calculated by
assuming negligible mutual solubility in the liquid
phase. Transition temperatures were taken from the
compilations of [83Cha], [King1], and [King2]. Equi-
libria involving the gas phase were calculated by as-
suming an ideal gas with }>total = PLi + PLi2 + PCs +
PCs2 = 1 bar in equilibrium with the liquid phase, with
aLi [L] ffi 1. Thermodynamic data for the gas phase
calculation were taken from the compilation of
[73Bar]. The small solubility of Rb in liquid Li was es-
timated by analogy with the Li-Cs system.
Cited References
39Boh: B. B6hm and W.Klemm, "The Behavior of Alkali Me-
tats Toward One Another," Z. Anorg. Chem., 243, 69 (1939).
(Equi Diagram; Experimental)
73Bar: I. Barin, O. Knacke, and O. Kubaschewski, Ther-
mochemical Properties of Inorganic Substances, and Sup-
plement, Springer-Verlag, New York (19731 and (1977).
(Thermo; Compilation)
83Cha: M.W. Chase, "Heats of Transformation of the Ele-
ments," Bull.Alloy Phase Diagrams, 4(1), 124 (1983).

Li-Rbevaluationcontributedby C.W.Bale, Centre de Recherche en CalculThermochindque,Ecole Polytechnique,Campusde l'Univereit~ de

blontr6al, P.O.Box6079, StationA, Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH3C 3A7.This workwu partially supported by the United States Departmentof
Energy fundsthrough the Joint Program on Critical Compilationof Physical and ChendcalData coordinatedthrough the Officeof Standard
Reference Data, National Institute of Standards and Technology.Literature searched through1988. Professor Bale imthe ASM/NIST Data
ProgrmnCo-CategoryEditorfor binaryalkalimetalsystems.

The K-Zr (Potassium-Zirconium) System

By C.W. Bale
Ecole Polytechnique de Montr6al

Equilibrium Diagram
The assessed K-Zr phase diagram is shown in Fig. 1.
The system is almost completely immiscible in both
the solid and liquid states. There is no evidence of in-
termetallic formation in this system, nor in any of the
other alkali metal-group IV A systems. The extent of
the solubility is very limited, and it follows from ther-
modynamic considerations that the univariant
temperatures in Fig. 1 are virtually identical with
phase transitions of the pure components. The crystal
structure data for the elements according to [King2]
and [King3] are summarized in Table 1,
[70Ste] attempted to measure the solubility of Zr in
liquid K in the temperature range 747 to 1068 °C. The
study was part of a program to measure the solubilities
in liquid K of five transition elements (Mo, W, V, Ti, and
Zr). K containing less t h a n 20 wt.% ppm of oxygen was
equilibrated in Zr-sealed capsules ( - 3 mL) for 24 h.
The liquid was drained and quenched. The Zr content

Table I K-Zr Crystal Structure and Lattice Parameter Data

Composition, Pearson Space Strukturberleht Lattice parameters, nm
Phame at.% Zr symbol group dNignation Prototype a e Comment

(K) ................ 0.0 ci2 Imam A2 W 0.5321 ... RT

(aZr) .............100 hP2 P63/mmc A3 Mg 0.32317 0.51476 RT
( ~ Z r ) .............100 cI2 Im3m A2 W 0.3609 ... • 8 6 5 °C

Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams Vol. 10 No. 3 1989 269

K-Zr

Fig. 1 Assessed K-Zr Phase Diagram

Weight Percent Zirconium

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
2000 .... l .... '. .... l....,., ....... I ........ J," .... " " ' | ' " "
G+I.
..... ,'J ...... , ......... t,. ........

1855°C(M,~
, ........

1500-

G + (flZr)
o~

1000-
G ~, (aZr)
~83°C

E <0.0004 at.g Zr ~77~°¢

v~c(s.P.)

500-
L ÷ (aZr)

~n°C(~LP.) (K) ~,~Zr) "~t°¢

0 ........ F......... f ......... t ......... ~. . . . . . . . . t ......... i ......... t ......... i ......... t .........
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 tO0

K Atomic Percent Zirconium Zr

C.W. Bale, 1989.

was m e a s u r e d by optical s p e c t r o g r a p h i c a n a l y s i s a n d calculations, the c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e gas p h a s e a t 1 a t m

was found to be less t h a n the detection limit o f 10 wt. is e s t i m a t e d to be - 0 . 0 0 0 0 2 at.% Z r in e q u i l i b r i u m
p p m Zr (0.0004 at.% Zr) for the a p p a r a t u s . w i t h a l m o s t p u r e liquid Z r a t 2 0 0 0 °C.

T h e r e are not o t h e r r e p o r t e d solubility m e a s u r e m e n t s Clted Reference

in this system.
70Ste: S. Stecura, "Solubilities of Molybdenum, Tungsten,
By comparison w i t h t h e o t h e r alkali m e t a l - g r o u p IV A Vanadium, Titanium and Zirconium in Liquid Potassium,"
systems, the solubility o f K in solid Zr a n d in liquid Zr Corrosion by Liquid Metals, Plenum Press, NY, 601-611
is expected to be v e r y limited. F r o m v a p o r p r e s s u r e (1970). (Equi Diagram; Experimentab

K-Zr evaluation contributed by C.W. Bale, Centre de Recherche en Calcul Thermochimique, Ecole Polytechnique, Campus de l'Universit~ de
Montreal, P.O. Box 6079, Station A, Montr6al, Quebec, Canada H3C 3A7. ~ work warnpartially supported by Department of Energy ftmds
through the Joint Program on Critical Compilation of Physical and Chemical Data coordinated through the Office of Standard Reference Data,
National Institute of Standards and Technology.Literature searched through 1988. Profeuor Bale is the ASM/NIST Data Program Co-Category
Editor for binary alkali metal systente.

270 Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams Vol. 10 No. 3 1989