Liquidus Projection of the B-Fe-U Diagram: the Fe-Rich Corner

The liquidus projection of the Fe-rich corner of the B-Fe-U phase diagram is proposed based on powder X-ray diffraction measurements, differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy observations complemented by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The present work demonstrates the existence of 10 ternary reactions together with 18 monovariant lines and establishes their location and approximate temperatures. The ternary compounds existing in this region of the B-Fe-U ternary phase diagram, UFe 3 B 2 , UFe 4 B, and U 2 Fe 21 B 6 , were confirmed to form by ternary peritectic reactions, yet UFe 4 B and U 2 Fe 21 B 6 have minute primary crystallization fields, indicating a more challenging preparation of single crystals for these compounds when compared with UFe 3 B 2 .