Mercury Process for MnBi Production

Abstract

A method for producing manganese bismuthide has been investigated where in the manganese and bismuth are first “dissolved” in mercury by heating at atmospheric pressure. The mercury is subsequently vacuum distilled at a low temperature, leaving a strongly ferromagnetic residue of MnBi. The MnBi prepared by this method was shown to be identical with that prepared by other methods. X-ray diffraction showed only lines that could be attributed to MnBi. In addition, the lattice constants agreed with those reported by other investigators. The first anisotropy constant was determined for this material as well as for known MnBi. These anisotropies were found to be similar. The magnetic moment of the material produced by the mercury process was found to depend on the stoichiometry of the product, the maximum being obtained for that computed for the formula, MnBi.