Protocol for the preparation, heat treatment, and structural and magnetic characterization of Cu-doped τ-MnAl ribbons produced by melt spinning

Summary Here, we describe a protocol for preparation (arc melting and melt spinning) and heat treatment of two compositional series: Mn55-xAl₄₅Cux and Mn₅₅Al45-xCux (x = 0.0, 2.0, and 2.5). We provide details of their structural and microstructural characterization by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), along with magnetic characterization using a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). In these series, Cu partially substitutes for Mn and Al, respectively, yielding the hard-magnetic tetragonal τ-phase (L1₀ structure). For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Echeverri et al.¹