Thermodynamic modeling of the Cu–Mn system supported by key experiments

The Cu–Mn system was investigated via a combination approach of experiment and thermodynamic modeling. Based on the critically assessed Cu–Mn phase diagram, eight crucial alloys were selected and the phase relations resulting from the alloys were obtained using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. In particular, the temperature associated with the peritectoid reaction CUB_A13 + FCC_A1 = CBCC_A12 was measured to be 725 °C accurately. A thermodynamic modeling of the Cu–Mn system was then performed by considering the reviewed literature data and incorporating the present experimental results. The computed phase diagram and thermodynamic properties using the optimization thermodynamic parameters are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Noticeable improvements to previous thermodynamic descriptions of this binary system are made.