Phase equilibria in the ZnGeAs2–MnAs system

Abstract

The ZnGeAs₂–MnAs system is a eutectic-type system as determined by X-ray powder diffraction, DTA, and microstructure observation, with the eutectic coordinates: 61 mol % ZnGeAs₂ mol %, 39 mol % MnAs, and T_m = 816°C. The eutectic is a lamellar eutectic as shown by microstructure examination. A characteristic feature of the system is a small mutual solubility of the components. Precision analysis of diffraction patterns enabled us to refine unit cell parameters for cubic and tetragonal ZnGeAs₂ phases. MnAs in alloys is shown to consist of a hexagonal phase and a orthorhombic phase. ZnGeAs₂ and MnAs alloys are ferromagnets (T_C ~ 320 K). Their magnetization increases in response to increasing MnAs content.