Crystal growth by molten metal flux method and properties of manganese silicides

Crystals of binary manganese silicides were grown from high temperature copper, tin and lead metal fluxes by slow cooling method under an argon atmosphere, The growth conditions for obtaining single crystals of relatively large size were established. For tin and lead fluxes, the three silicides Mn5Si3, MnSi, and Mn27Si47 crystals were prepared, and Mn5Si3 (about 0.1X0.1X6.4 mm(3)) and MnSi (about 0.9X1.0X9.2 mm(3)) were obtained of relatively large size from the tin flux. For copper flux, only the two silicides MnSi and Mn5Si3 were formed, and the crystals were somewhat smaller. As-grown Mn5Si3, MnSi, and Mn27Si47 crystals were used for chemical analyses and measurements of density and unit cell parameters. The chemical analyses of the crystals are discussed. Vickers microhardness and electrical resistivity were determined on MnSi and Mn5Si3 crystals, and oxidation at high temperature in air was studied for Mn5Si3, MnSi, and Mn27Si47 crystals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.