A metastable phase TiCu₃(m)

A metastable phase TiCu₃(m) has been prepared by rapid quenching from the melt (splat cooling). TiCu₃(m) is orthorhombic, D0_a type, with a₀ = 5.45₀, b₀ = 4.42₆, and c₀ = 4.30₇ Å. Although TiCu₃(m) is isotypic with a nonexistent equilibrium phase `TiCu<sub>3</sub>' reported in the literature, its structure is distinctly different from that of `TiCu₃'; instead, TiCu₃(m) is closely related to ZrAu₃. A large metastable solid solubility of Ti in Cu was found.