Phase transformation studies carried out on Mn-Al-C permanent magnet alloy employing DSC and electrical resistivity measurements, are reported and discussed. The transformation of the hexagonal Mn-Al phase (disordered and non-magnetic) to the ferromagnetic fct phase proceeds via the formation, in at least two stages, of the ordered orthorhombic phase. The activation energy for the formation of the fct phase is ≈34.65 kcal/mol. Microstructural changes occurring at various stages of the transformation are also studied. © 1995 Akadémiai Kiadó.