Zn5Sn4

Zn5Sn4 is an intermetallic compound of zinc and tin with a 5:4 zinc-to-tin ratio. It is one of several phases identified in the zinc–tin binary system and typically forms in zinc-rich compositions during alloying and subsequent heat treatment or solidification.

The compound is a crystalline solid whose structure has been studied by X-ray diffraction. Its reported crystal arrangement defines a specific lattice for the Zn5Sn4 composition, and detailed structural parameters have been described in metallurgical literature. Preparation methods include direct reaction of elemental zinc and tin at elevated temperatures or the solidification of Zn–Sn alloys with an overall 5:4 ratio around the corresponding phase field.

In terms of properties, Zn5Sn4, like many intermetallics, exhibits metallic conductivity and brittleness relative to pure metals. Its thermal behavior is influenced by temperature and the alloy environment, with stability tied to the Zn–Sn phase relations. The compound is primarily of interest for fundamental phase equilibria in the Zn–Sn system and for understanding the behavior of zinc-containing alloys, including implications for soldering, corrosion resistance, and materials science investigations of intermetallic phases.

Zn5Sn4 serves as a reference point in discussions of Zn–Sn intermetallics and complements studies of neighboring phases in the same binary system.