Thermodynamic investigation of the Ag–Bi–Sn ternary system

The activities of Sn of liquid Ag–Bi–Sn alloys for three cross-sections with the constant molar ratios of Ag:Bi = 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 are measured at 627 and 727 ∘C by an electromotive force (emf) method with a liquid electrolyte. The previous thermodynamic descriptions of the Ag–Bi–Sn ternary system are modified by considering the literature data and our own experimental results. The thermodynamic interaction parameters of the Bi–Sn binary and the Ag–Bi–Sn ternary liquid phase are optimized using the emf and calorimetric data from the present work. Based on the self-consistent optimized thermodynamic parameters the phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of the Ag–Bi–Sn ternary system are calculated and compared with the experimental data. The agreement between the calculated results and the experimental data has been significantly improved.