Study of microstructure and thermal properties of the low-melting Bi-In eutectic alloys

This study reports the results of microstructure and thermal analysis of low-melting Bi-In alloys with potential for commercial application in the field of phase change materials. Three eutectic alloys Bi-47.44In, Bi-66.33In, Bi-77.92In (all in at.%) were prepared and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Microstructure of the prepared eutectic alloys was analysed using SEM-EDS, and identification of co-existing phases was done. Melting temperatures and latent heats of eutectic melting were measured using DSC technique. Experimentally obtained results were compared with the results of thermodynamic calculation according to CALPHAD (calculation of phase diagram) method, and good mutual agreement was noticed.