Application of the Molecular Interaction Volume Model for Calculating Activities of Elements in Ferromanganese Alloys: Mn-C, Mn-Fe, Fe-C, and Mn-Fe-C Systems

Abstract

The molecular interaction volume model (MIVM) developed by Tao is a fluid-based model derived from statistical thermodynamics and fluid phase equilibria. The MIVM was applied successfully to predict each element’s activity in Mn-based alloys, namely, Mn-C Mn-Fe, and Mn-Fe-C systems. The MIVM calculated binary parameters between metals (Fe, Mn) and nonmetal (C) in Mn-Fe-C alloys, confirming a strong interaction between Fe and Mn in Mn-Fe-C alloy. The MIVM indicated that iron has a great influence on the activity of Mn and little effect on the activity of carbon. A significant advantage of MIVM is its ability to explain the experimental phenomenon in the Mn-Fe-C ternary system, whereby the predicted values are in good agreement with the experimental data, showing that this model is reliable, convenient, and economic.