solvus
(ˈsɒlvəs)
Pl. solvi.
[mod.L., f. L. solvere to dissolve, after liquidus, solidus2.]
A line or surface in a phase diagram delimiting the region of stability of a solid solution.
| 1950 Jrnl. Geol. LVIII. 499/2 Now we have a means of establishing the position of the unmixing curve or solvus. 1956 Amer. Mineralogist XLIII. 877 In Fig. 4 three solvi are shown. 1963 W. A. Deer et al. Rock-Forming Minerals II. 127 If the liquidus minimum passes beyond the intersection with the solvus..the calcium-poor phase would cease to crystallize as a separate phase. 1968 R. A. Higgins Engin. Metall. (ed. 2) I. ix. 170 The only new feature of the system..is that we have phase boundaries occurring below the solidus, indicating that phase changes can take place in the solid. On the tin-lead thermal-equilibrium diagram..such phase boundaries..are indicated by the lines BC and FG. A line such as BC or FG is often termed as [sic] solvus. 1975 Nature 3 Apr. 406/2 At 1,450°C a further solvus was reported between the pigeonite and a more calcic diopside. |