Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modeling of the Mn-Ni-Si system

► The isothermal section at 1000 °C of the Mn-Ni-Si system was determined via key experiments by means of XRD and SEM/EDX. ► The enthalpy of formation for τ4 in the Mn-Ni-Si system was computed via the first-principles calculations. ► An optimal set of thermodynamic parameters was obtained based on the constituent binary systems.