Phase equilibria of the bismuth oxide-calcium oxide-copper oxide system at 1 atm of pure oxygen

Liquidus phase relations of bismuth oxide-calcium oxide-copper oxide are described in pure oxygen at 1 atm. CaO is the primary phase over most of the system and CuO crystallizes first along much of the copper oxide-bismuth oxide join. Two calcium-copper oxides have primary phase fields separating those of CaO and CuO; these have limited variation in Ca:Cu but extend to high Bi2O3 contents. Primary phase fields of Bi-Ca oxides are limited to a region with < 20% CuO and < 40% CaO, but eight binary oxides have primary phase fields in that part of the diagram. A total of nine tributary reaction points, four distributary reaction points, a eutectic, a thermal maximum, and a thermal minimum were located. Melting relations between different solid phases are described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.