Thermodynamic assessment of the C-Si-Zr system

The reaction between Zr and SiC at 1473 K in vacuum has been studied. A layer structure was observed after high-temperature reactions between Zr and SiC complex. ZrC(x) was formed next to the SiC. Thermodynamic description for the C-Si-Zr system was developed based on its constituent binaries and critically reviewed experimental data. The Si-Zr binary has been modified. The high-temperature Zr(5)Si(3) phase and the ternary compound Zr(5)Si(3)C(x) was described as one phase, using the model (Zr)(5)(Si)(3)(C, Va)(1). The calculated results were in good agreement with available experimental data. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.