Directly obtained τ-phase MnAl, a high performance magnetic material for permanent magnets

The metastable tetragonal iota-phase has been directly obtained from casting Mn0.54Al0.46 and (Mn0.55Al0.45)(100)C-2 using the drop synthesis method. The as-casted samples were ball milled to decrease the particle size and relaxed at 500 degrees C for 1 h. The phase composition, crystallographic parameters, magnetic properties and microstructure were systematically studied. The results reveal that the iota-phase could be directly obtained from drop synthesis. The highest M-s of 117 emu/g was achieved in the (Mn0.55Al0.45)(100)C-2 where the iota-phase was stabilized by doping with carbon. Carbon doping increased the c/a ratio of the tau-phase as it occupies specific interstitial positions (1/2, 1/2, 0) in the structure. Furthermore, ball milling increases the coercivity (H-c) at the expense of a decrease in magnetic saturation (M-s). The increase in coercivity is explained by a decrease of grain size in conjunction with domain wall pinning due to defects introduced during the ball milling process. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.