Detailed Investigation on Possible Phases During Solid-State Synthesis of MnAl Intermetallic Compound

The present study focuses on the phase and structural features of MnAl intermetallic compound during solid-state synthesis. In this regard, the milling process was done in differentMn50+xAl50-x (0<x<7.5)powder mixtures and the prepared samples were evaluated using X-ray diffractometer, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results showed that the τ-MnAl magnetic phase with L10 structure could not be formed during the milling and low temperature annealing. During milling process, Al atoms dissolve in Mn network and a single β-Mn supersaturated solid solution (SSSS) form. The β-Mn (SSSS) phase is unstable and transforms into the icosahedral quasi-crystal as well as γ2-Al8Mn5 and β-Mn stable phases during subsequent annealing.