Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis（SHS） is applied to produce Mn-Al master alloy for the first time. The thermodynamic data of Mn-Al master alloy are estimated, and the adiabatic temperature is calculated by Miedema model and two-parameter model of intermetallics. The reaction product is investigated by using chemical titration optical microscope，X-ray diffraction analysis, in which Mn2O3, Mn3O4 and CaO are taken as raw materials and Al as a reductive agent. Theoretical calculation and experimental results show that the adiabatic temperature is 3 160 K，and the feasibility of the SHS reaction is determined consequently. The content of manganese in master alloy is up to 78%，which broadens the methods of producing Mn-Al master alloy in practice.