New ternary phases RCu5-xCdx (R=Ce, Gd, Tb and Yb) with the AuBe5 structure type

A series of RCu5-xCdx (R=Ce, Gd, Tb and Yb) ternary compounds has been synthesized and studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All the RCu5-xCdx phases crystallize in the cubic AuBe5 structure type with the space group F3m (no.216). The formation of statistical mixture in positions 16(e) and 4(f) is characteristic for the Cu and Cd atoms. No phase transition were observed for the ternary compounds with AuBe5 structure type.