Question

Difference between intermetallic compound and solid solution

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Alloys are physical mixtures of two (or more) metals (e.g. Brass from Copper and Zinc) that form a single solid phase otherwise called a “solid solution”. ... Intermetallic compounds are alloys but alloy may or may not be intermetallic compound.

Answer 2

Solid solutions have the solute atoms and matrix atoms distrubuted randomly. The lattice type is that of the matrix material. Intermetallics have ordered arrangements of the different atom types. The lattice type is different from that of the matrix material(s) - a bigger unit cell with more atoms per lattice point. A classic example is CuZn: at high T, the lattice type is BCC. with Cu and Zn randomly on the lattice sites. At low T it is simple cubic, with one Cu and one Zn per lattice point: one atom type at the lattice point, the other type at 1/2,1/2,1/2 away from it. There is a second-order transition between the two forms at a fixed temperature.