Structure, mechanical properties and electrical resistivity of rapidly solidified Pb-Sn-Cd and Pb-Bi-Sn-Cd alloys

A series of Pb-Sn-Cd alloys containing up to 60 wt % Bi were quenched from the melt to room temperature by melt spinning. The structure of rapidly solidified (melt spun), Pb-30 wt % Sn-10 wt % Cd, Pb-30 wt % Bi-20 wt % Sn-10 wt % Cd, and Pb-60 wt % Bi-10 wt % Sn-10 wt % Cd have been investigated by means of an X-ray diffraction technique. From X-ray analysis a crystalline metastable phase, designated chi(Pb-Bi) is detected. The formation of a metastable crystalline phase in the range of composition investigated causes a pronounced increase in the electrical resistivity. Desirable values of hardness and elastic constants are critically evaluated. It is also observed that the values of the Fermi energy are a few electron volts. Calculated values for the concentration of the conduction electrons, N,m(-3) of Pb -60 wt % Bi-10 wt % Sn-10 wt % Cd rapidly solidified is found to be 0.985 x 10(28) m(-3).