Extensive Interstitial Solid Solutions of Metals in Metals

A new type of metallic solid solution has been prepared in which $<~12.5$ at.% of comparatively small metal atoms (Cu) fill interstitial sites in a host metal composed of larger atoms (Y). At higher solute concentrations, both interstitial and substitutional sites are occupied. These solid solutions are metastable; they were formed by ultrarapid quenching from the liquid.