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We have studied phase equilibria in the silicon-rich part of the Yb–Pt–Si system. To this end, 22 alloys were prepared by a standard arc-melting process in an argon atmosphere and annealed at a temperature of 850°C. Physicochemical characterization of the samples included electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, and differential thermal analysis. We have confirmed the existence of four previously known intermetallic compounds: YbPtSi, YbPt2Si2, Yb3Pt4Si6, and Yb2Pt3Si5. In addition, three new phases have been identified: YbPtSi2, Yb33Pt17Si50, and Yb11Pt33Si56. The structure type of the YbPtSi2 compound has been determined. We present statistical crystallographic data for the ternary phases and describe phase equilibria in the region studied in the 850°C isothermal section of the Yb–Pt–Si phase diagram.

We have studied chemical interaction of the intermetallic compound NdRh3 with hydrogen at pressures of up to 0.2 GPa. The structural changes in the intermetallic matrix in different stages of the hydrogenation process have been followed using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrate that hydrogen absorption leads to an irreversible change in lattice symmetry from hexagonal to cubic.