Phase equilibria and volume properties of (LiF-MgF2)eut-LnF3 (Ln = Sm, Gd, Nd) molten systems

•Phase diagrams of (LiF-MgF2)eut-LnF3 consist of several crystallization fields.•Phase analysis of solidified samples was performed by X-ray powder diffraction.•Volume contraction was identified in the investigated systems. Phase equilibria and density of the molten systems (LiF-MgF2)eut-LnF3 (Ln = Sm, Gd, Nd) were determined by means of thermal analysis and Archimedean method of hydrostatic weighing as well-established methods for the investigation of the molten salts. Solidified samples after the thermal analysis were analysed by XRD analysis and phase analysis (qualitative and quantitative) of these samples was performed by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) for the identification of unidentified phases. The investigation of the volume properties showed the increasing tendency of concentration dependencies of density and molar volume and volume contraction for all three investigated molten systems.