PREPARATION AND PHASE FORMATION OF Al-Mn ALLOYS

This study investigates the preparation and phase formation of Al-Mn alloys, addressing the increasing demand for alternative magnetic materials that do not rely on rare-earth elements. The main objective is to explore the magnetic properties of the Al-Mn system and the influence of microstructural attributes on its performance, particularly the formation of the τ -MnAl phase, known for its beneficial magnetic characteristics. The methodology includes examining various production routes, focusing on non-equilibrium processing techniques such as melt spinning and gas atomization to achieve the desired τ -phase and fine-grained morphology. Results indicate that the magnetic properties are highly sensitive to the initial Mn-to-Al ratio and preparation methods, affecting the formed phases and their subsequent annealing treatments. Additionally, the metastable ferromagnetic τ -MnAl phase was characterized, showcasing a tetragonal superstructure that could lead to improved commercial applications, particularly in renewable energy and advanced storage solutions. The findings highlight the technological challenges in optimizing the processing strategies to realize the full potential of Al-Mn-based magnets as viable replacements for traditional high-strength rare-earth magnets.