Constitutional properties of rare earth antimonides: trends and optimization Sm-Sb and Er-Sb alloys

General, constitutional properties of the rare earth antimonides are briefly summarized. The trends observed in the crystallochemistry, thermodynamics and phase diagrams of these substances are discussed and used as an evaluation criterion for the reliability of the different specific data and for defining typical assessment procedures. Some results recently obtained in the thermochemical investigation of binary Er-Sb alloys are presented. The Sm-Sb system is then especially considered and assessed. By using the Lukas program a thermodynamic optimization of this system is carried out. (orig.)