Microstructures and thermoelectric power of the higher manganese silicide alloys

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn the present work, we investigate microstructures and thermoelectric power of the binary higher manganese silicide (hereafter denoted as HMS) base alloys prepared by ingot metallurgy, i.e., arc-melting in an Ar gas atmosphere. Alloys with 63.5, 64.0 and 64.5 at% Si have a small amount of second phase, either the primary metallic MnSi phase or Si solid solution (hereafter denoted as (Si)). A slight revision is thereby made on the HMS single phase region of the Mn-Si binary phase diagram. The presence of MnSi seems to reduce the thermoelectric power of the HMS, while that of (Si) enhances it. An alloy having the HMS/(Si) eutectic microstructure, 67.9at%Si, shows the highest thermoelectric power in the Mn-Si binary alloys examined. Moreover, effect of doping the p-type elements, Fe and Cr, on the thermoelectric power and microstructural features is also investigated for a 63.5at%Si alloy which consists mostly of HMS phase with a small amount of (Si) phase. It is shown that both elements, especially 0.5 at% Cr addition, enhance the thermoelectric power of the alloys.