In order to improve the design and control of the fabrication of MgB2, complete thermodynamic descriptions of the system, phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the binary Mg-B system were analyzed and a complete thermodynamic description of the binary system was obtained by means of the CALPHAD technique; using computerized optimization (figure 14). The thermodynamic descriptions of pure Mg and B elements were taken from the literature. Based upon the experimental data, 3 binary intermetallic compounds, MgB2, MgB4 and MgB6, were considered. Good agreement was obtained between the calculated results and available experimental data.

Computational Thermodynamic Modeling of the Mg-B System. Z.K.Liu, Y.Zhong, D.G.Schlom, X.X.Xi, Q.Li: Calphad, 2001, 25[2], 299-303