Editing Intermetallic (section)

==Definitions==
===Research definition===
In 1967 {{interlanguage link|Gustav Ernst Robert Schulze|de}} defined intermetallic compounds as ''solid phases containing two or more metallic elements, with optionally one or more non-metallic elements, whose crystal structure differs from that of the other constituents''.<ref>G. E. R. Schulze: Metallphysik, Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1967</ref> This definition includes:
* Electron (or [[Hume-Rothery rules|Hume-Rothery]]) compounds
* Size packing phases. e.g. [[Laves phase]]s, [[Frank–Kasper phases]] and [[Nowotny phase]]s
* [[Zintl phase]]s

The definition of metal includes:{{cn|date=March 2025}}
* [[Post-transition metal]]s, i.e. [[aluminium]], [[gallium]], [[indium]], [[thallium]], [[tin]], [[lead]], and [[bismuth]].
* [[Metalloid]]s, e.g. [[silicon]], [[germanium]], [[arsenic]], [[antimony]] and [[tellurium]].

Homogeneous and heterogeneous [[solid solution]]s of metals, and [[interstitial compound]]s such as [[carbide]]s and [[nitride]]s are excluded under this definition. However, interstitial intermetallic compounds are included, as are alloys of intermetallic compounds with a metal.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

===Common use===
In common use, the research definition, including [[post-transition metal]]s and [[metalloid]]s, is extended to include compounds such as [[cementite]], Fe<sub>3</sub>C. These compounds, sometimes termed [[interstitial compound]]s, can be [[stoichiometric]], and share properties with the above intermetallic compounds.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

===Complexes===
The term intermetallic is used<ref>{{Cotton&Wilkinson6th}}</ref> to describe compounds involving two or more metals such as the [[cyclopentadienyl complex]] Cp<sub>6</sub>Ni<sub>2</sub>Zn<sub>4</sub>.

===B2===
A [[Strukturbericht designation#B-compounds|B2]] intermetallic compound has equal numbers of atoms of two metals such as aluminum and iron, arranged as two interpenetrating simple cubic lattices of the component metals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wings of steel: An alloy of iron and aluminium is as good as titanium, at a tenth of the cost|url=https://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21642107-alloy-iron-and-aluminium-good-titanium-tenth|access-date=February 5, 2015|newspaper=The Economist|date=February 7, 2015|quote=E02715}}</ref>