Experimental study on the phase formation for the Mg–B system in Ar atmosphere

We have investigated the phase formation for the Mg–B system in an argon atmosphere using the couple diffusion technique and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The diffusion experimental result indicates that the solid–solid reaction between magnesium and boron is carried out by magnesium diffusing into boron. DSC curves with different stoichiometric compositions of magnesium and boron as MgxB2 (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3.0) show that the solid–solid reaction, Mg melting and liquid–solid reaction occur in turn for the Mg–B system during rising temperature. Based on the results of DSC and couple diffusion, a reaction model for the Mg–B system was discussed.