Institute of Metals Division - Phase Relationships in Manganese-Silicon Alloys Containing from 2 to 24 At. Pct Si

MnSi alloys containing from 2 to 24 at. pct Si have been investigated by metallographic and X-ray methods. Contrary to published data, the temperature of the ß-manganese to a-manganese transformation is lowered by the addition of silicon. The existence of two additional intermediate phases E and ( is demonstrated. E, ranging in composition from 12 to 15.5 at. pct Si, forms by a peritectoid reaction between ß manganese and the second new phase, (. The latter phase is homogeneous at silicon contents from 16.2 to 18 at. pct and forms peritectically from the 0 phase and liquid. The eutectic reaction occurs between the ( phase and MnsSi rather than the ß phase and Mn3Si. As a result of this investigation, a modification of the manganese-rich section of the MnSi equilihrium diagram is proposed. The binary diagram of Mn-Si, according to Hansen,' Fig. 1, exhibits in the low-silicon region (below 24 at. pct Si) a peritectic transformation at 900°C of 0 manganese + Mn3Si to a manganese as determined by R. Vogel and H. Bedarff2 as well as a thermal effect at 980°C between 16.2 and 22.6 at. pct Si reported by the same authors. The nature of the latter transformation was unknown. K. Amark, B. Boren, and A. westgren3 reported indications that possibly four more phases existed in the range of 10 to 27 at. pct Si. The present investigation deals with the phase relations in the range of 2.1 to 17.7 at. pct Si. A few spot checks were conducted up to 23.84 at. pct Si. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Small experimental heats were prepared by induction melting in a vacuum furnace using argon as a protective atmosphere. The crucible was of commercial-quality magnesia. The furnace charge consisted of silicon metal and dehydrogenated electrolytic manganese. The typical analysis for these materials is shown in Table I. The molten alloy was tapped into 2-in.-square, 7-in.-long ingots. After visual inspection, a small quantity of alloy in the middle portion of the ingot was separated for use in this investigation.MnSi alloys containing from 2 to 24 at. pct Si have been investigated by metallographic and X-ray methods. Contrary to published data, the temperature of the ß-manganese to a-manganese transformation is lowered by the addition of silicon. The existence of two additional intermediate phases E and ( is demonstrated. E, ranging in composition from 12 to 15.5 at. pct Si, forms by a peritectoid reaction between ß manganese and the second new phase, (. The latter phase is homogeneous at silicon contents from 16.2 to 18 at. pct and forms peritectically from the 0 phase and liquid. The eutectic reaction occurs between the ( phase and MnsSi rather than the ß phase and Mn3Si. As a result of this investigation, a modification of the manganese-rich section of the MnSi equilihrium diagram is proposed. The binary diagram of Mn-Si, according to Hansen,' Fig. 1, exhibits in the low-silicon region (below 24 at. pct Si) a peritectic transformation at 900°C of 0 manganese + Mn3Si to a manganese as determined by R. Vogel and H. Bedarff2 as well as a thermal effect at 980°C between 16.2 and 22.6 at. pct Si reported by the same authors. The nature of the latter transformation was unknown. K. Amark, B. Boren, and A. westgren3 reported indications that possibly four more phases existed in the range of 10 to 27 at. pct Si. The present investigation deals with the phase relations in the range of 2.1 to 17.7 at. pct Si. A few spot checks were conducted up to 23.84 at. pct Si. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Small experimental heats were prepared by induction melting in a vacuum furnace using argon as a protective atmosphere. The crucible was of commercial-quality magnesia. The furnace charge consisted of silicon metal and dehydrogenated electrolytic manganese. The typical analysis for these materials is shown in Table I. The molten alloy was tapped into 2-in.-square, 7-in.-long ingots. After visual inspection, a small quantity of alloy in the middle portion of the ingot was separated for use in this investigation.