Structural and magnetic studies of the alloy system GdInxAg1-x

The structural and magnetic studies below room temperature of the alloy system GdIn_xAg_1-x(0?x?1) are reported. It has been found that alloys with x?0.5 crystallize in CsCl type cubic structure, but the distortion of the unit cell starts for alloys with x#62;0.5 and for these alloys the unit cell becomes tetragonal. No phase change is evident from the low temperature (295-8 K) structural studies. However, a break appears in the X^-1_m vs. T linear plot of each alloy of this system at a specific temperature (designated as break temperature T_B). The variation of T_B with x is similar to the variation of phase transition temperature with x reported for LaIn_xAg_1-x. Close agreement has been found in the values of effective magneton number (p), magnetic ordering [Néel (T_N) or Curie (T_C)] and paramagnetic Curie (θ_p) temperature for materials studied by us and earlier workers. The variation of magnetization with applied field strength (2.5-65)×10⁵ Am^-1) at 4.2 K has also been reported for ferromagnetic of this system. It has been concluded that alloys with 0.4?x?0.6 are simple ferromagnets with parallel alignment of magnetic moment in the ground state. The angular arrangement of the magnetic moment starts appearing in the ground state for alloys with x?0.4 for x#62;0.6 and continues till x becomes closure to 0.17 or 0.84. The alloys with x=0.17 or x=0.84 have θ_p and T_C equal to zero and appear paramagnetic. Angular arrangement in spins again appear for alloys with x?0.17 or x#62;0.84, however all materials with 0?x?0.17 or 0.84?x?1 remain antiferromagnetic.     

Magnetism of Cu2(Mn1−xNix)Sn Heusler alloys

New mixed Heusler alloys of the system Cu₂(Mn_1?xNi_x)Sn were prepared with x = 0–1. Magnetic measurements in the ferromagnetic region were undertaken. For manganese, the only atom displaying a magnetic moment in this row of Heusler alloys, 4μ_B was found, deviations were due to the degree of order. Measurements in the paramagnetic region were not possible because of phase transitions on heating leading to polyphase samples. The critical concentration of magnetic ions was estimated to 13 at.% and compared with models given by Duff and Cannella [6]. With the same plot the Curie point for Cu₂MnSn could be determined (630 K).     

Microstructure and magnetocaloric effect in cast LaFe11.5Si1.5Bx (x=0.5, 1.0)

Phase formation, structure, and the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in as-cast LaFe_11.5Si_1.5B_x (x=0.5, 1.0) compounds have been studied. The Curie temperatures, T_C, are ∼211 and 230 K for x=0.5 and 1.0, respectively, which are higher than that of annealed LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 (T_C=183 K), while the maximum magnetic entropy changes at the respective T_C under a magnetic field change of 0-5 T are 7.8 and 5.8 J/(kg K). Wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS) analysis shows that only a small fraction of boron atoms is dissolved in the NaZn₁₃-type structure phase, and that the compositions of the as-cast LaFe_11.5Si_1.5B_x (x=0.5, 1.0) alloys are much different from the intended nominal compositions. These as-cast alloys exhibit second-order magnetic phase transitions and low MCEs. However, based on the relative cooling power, the as-cast LaFe_11.5Si_1.5B_x alloys are promising candidates for magnetic refrigerants over a wide temperature range.     

Magnetic order in palladium-based Heusler alloys Part I: Pd2MnIn1−xSnx and Pd2MnSn1−xSbx

Magnetization, susceptibility, X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements have been made on the two series of alloys Pd₂MnIn_1?xSn_x and Pd₂MnSn_1?xSb_x, for 0 ? x ? 1. All were single phase and were chemically ordered intermetallic compounds with the Heusler L2₁ structure in which the Mn atoms occupy an f.c.c. sub-lattice. At all compositions the alloys were magnetically ordered with a moment of ～4.3 μ_B located at the Mn sites. At the In-rich end the magnetic order is antiferromagnetic f.c.c. type 2. As Sn is increasingly substituted for In there is a change in magnetic order first to antiferromagnetic f.c.c. type 3A and then to ferromagnetism. All the alloys in the Sn/Sb series are ferromagnetic and in both series there is an increase in the ferromagnetic exchange interactions with increasing electron concentration.     

Microstructure and some magnetic properties of bulk amorphous (Fe0.61Co0.10Zr0.025Hf0.025Ti0.02W0.02B0.20)100−xYx (x=0, 2, 3 or 4) alloys

Microstructure, revealed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic properties such as magnetic susceptibility, its disaccommodation, core losses and approach to magnetic saturation in bulk amorphous (Fe_0.61Co_0.10Zr_0.025Hf_0.025Ti_0.02W_0.02B_0.20)_100−xY_x (x=0, 2, 3 or 4) alloys in the as-cast state and after the annealing in vacuum at 720 K for 15 min. are studied. The investigated alloys are ferromagnetic at room temperature. The average hyperfine field induction decreases with Y concentration. Due to annealing out of free volumes its value increases after the heat treatment of the samples. The magnetic susceptibility and core losses point out that the best thermal stability by the amorphous (Fe_0.61Co_0.10Zr_0.025Hf_0.025Ti_0.02W_0.02B_0.20)₉₇Y₃ alloy is exhibited. Moreover, from Mössbauer spectroscopy investigations it is shown that the mentioned above alloy is the most homogeneous. The atom packing density increases with Y concentration, which is proved by the magnetic susceptibility disaccommodation and approach to magnetic saturation studies.     

Structural, magnetic properties and magnetostriction studies of Sm1−xNdxFe1.55 alloys

Structural, magnetic properties and magnetostriction studies of Sm_1−xNd_xFe_1.55 (0≤x≤0.56) alloys have been performed. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the presence of single cubic Laves phase in Sm_1-xNd_xFe_1.55 alloys with 0≤x≤0.48. The lattice parameter of alloys increases linearly with increase in Nd content while the Curie temperature behaves in the opposite way. The alloy x=0.08 exhibits a giant magnetostriction value (λ_∥-λ_⊥) of −2187 ppm at a magnetic field of 12 kOe due to the anisotropy compensation between Sm³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions.     

The magnetic entropy changes in Gd1−xBx alloys

A series of Gd_(1−x)B_x alloys have been prepared by arc melting method. After introducing small quantity of B atom in Gd, the Curie temperature of these alloys increase while the magnetic entropy changes are almost same as that of Gd. The refrigerant capacities of these alloys are also greater than that of Gd. These results suggest that Gd_(1−x)B_x alloys may be utilized as refrigerant in household magnetic refrigeration.     

Low temperature resistivities of FexNi80-xP14B6 metallic glasses

The resistivities of six Fe_xNi_80-xP₁₄B₆ alloys have been measured between 1.5 and 50 K. It is found that the resistivity variations both below and above the resistivity minima depend on the transition metal composition. The room temperature coefficients of the resistivity indicate the existence of the magnetic contribution to the resistivity.     

The influence of Al substitution on the phase transitions and magnetocaloric effect in Ni43Mn46Sn11−xAlx alloys

The effects of Al substitution on the phase transitions and magnetocaloric effect of Ni₄₃Mn₄₆Sn_11−xAl_x (x=0-2) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. With the increase of Al content, the cell volume decreases due to the smaller radius of Al, and the martensitic transformation temperature increases rapidly, while the Curie temperature of austenitic phase shows a small increase. A large positive and a negative magnetic entropy change were observed near the first-order martensitic transition and the second-order magnetic transition, respectively. The magnetic entropy changes, hysteresis behavior, and refrigerant capacity near the two transitions are compared.     

The effect of different temperature annealing on phase relation of LaFe11.5Si1.5 and the magnetocaloric effects of La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.5−xCoxSi1.5 alloys

The phase relation of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloys annealed at different high-temperature from 1223 K (5 h) to 1673 K (0.5 h) has been studied. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that large amount of 1:13 phase begins to form in the matrix alloy consisting of α-Fe and LaFeSi phases when the annealing temperature is 1423 K. In the temperature range from 1423  to 1523 K, α-Fe and LaFeSi phases rapidly decrease to form 1:13 phase, and LaFeSi phase is rarely observed in the XRD pattern of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloy annealed at 1523 K. With annealing temperature increasing from 1573  to 1673 K, the LaFeSi phase is detected again in the LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloy, and there is La₅Si₃ phase when the annealing temperature reaches 1673 K. There almost is no change in the XRD patterns of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5 alloys annealed at 1523 K for 3-5 h. According to this result, the La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.5−xCo_xSi_1.5 (0≤×≤0.7) alloys are annealed at 1523 K (3 h). The analysis of XRD patterns shows that La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.5xCo_xSi_1.5 alloys consist of the NaZn₁₃-type main phase and α-Fe impurity phase. With the increase of Co content from x=0 to 0.7, the Curie temperature T_C increases from 180 to 266 K. Because the increase of Co content can weaken the itinerant electron metamagnetic transition, the order of the magnetic transition at T_C changes from first to second-order between x=0.3 and 0.5. Although the magnetic entropy change decreases from 34.9 to 6.8 J/kg K with increasing Co concentration at a low magnetic field of 0-2 T, the thermal and magnetic hysteresis loss reduces remarkably, which is very important for the magnetic refrigerant near room temperature.     

Magnetic hyperfine interactions and compositional short range order in the Heusler alloys Cu2MnIn1-xSnx

A comprehensive study of the magnetic hyperfine interactions and the processes of crystallographic ordering in the Heusler alloy system Cu₂MnIn_1-xSn_x has been made. We report the results of Mössbauer effect experiments, X-ray diffraction studies, electrical transport, and Curie temperature measurements. By a rapid quenching, low temperature annealing technique we have been able to extend the ordered L2₁ structure to high Sn concentration. Observations of inequivalent Sn sites and nonunique ¹¹⁹Sn hyperfine field values in these alloys are shown to be due to difficulties in ordering the L2₁ structure and a basic instability of this phase for high Sn concentrations. The compositional variation of ¹¹⁹Sn hyperfine fields in the ordered L2₁ phase of the Cu₂MnIn_1-xSn_x system reveals a systematic increase with Sn composition. Calculations of these fields based on a homogeneously spin polarized electron gas model reproduce the observed field systematics quite well. The implications of these results on the nature of magnetic interactions in Heusler alloys are discussed.     

The magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effect in MnNi1−xCoxGe alloys

The magnetic phase transitions and the magnetocaloric effects in MnNi_1−xCo_xGe (x=0.38 and 0.40) alloys were investigated. The substitution of Co for Ni in the MnNiGe antiferromagnet results in the metamagnetic transitions from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic state, which associates with very small thermal and magnetic hystereses. Positive and negative values of magnetic entropy changes are exhibited around the metamagnetic transition temperature and Curie temperature, respectively. The relatively large refrigerant capacity in low magnetic field along with the good reversibility suggest that MnNi_1−xCo_xGe (x=0.38 and 0.40) alloys are potential candidates for magnetic refrigeration.     

The magnetic entropy change in La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.4Si1.6Bx compounds prepared by copper-mold casting

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.4Si_1.6B_x (x=0.0-0.5) compounds, prepared by a copper-mold casting (CMC) method, has been investigated. Comparing with the conventional arc-melting (CAM) method, the relatively homogenous composition and microstructure were achieved in the precursor alloys prepared by the CMC method. As a result, the annealing time is dramatically shortened from several weeks for CAM alloys to 2 h for CMC alloys, suggesting that CMC method is a time-saving and energy-saving method for fabrication of MCE alloys. On the other hand, it is revealed that B addition gives rise to an enhancement of Curie temperature (T_C), a reduction of thermal lag and magnetic hysteresis and a broadening of working temperature span as well. Although the peak value of magnetic entropy change decreases with B content, various B-contained compounds hold close refrigerant capacities. Comprehensively considering magnetocaloric properties of the B-contained La_0.8Ce_0.2Fe_11.4Si_1.6B_x compounds, it can be concluded that the B-contained compounds prepared by CMC method are promising candidates of magnetocaloric materials in practical application.     

Magnetic annealing effect in amorphous Fe100-xBx and Co100-xBx binary alloys

The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by magnetic annealing was studied for rapidly quenched amorphous Fe_100-xB_x (12?x?25) and Co_100-xB_x (17?x?30) alloys. The value of induced uniaxial anisotropy constant K_ui increased with increasing B content from 1 x 10³ erg/cm³ at x = 12 to about 4 x 10³ erg/cm³ at x = 25 in Fe_100-xB_x alloy s exhibiting an inflection around x=20. While the value of K_ui in Co_100-xB_x alloys exhibits a maximum of about 6 x 10³ erg/cm³ aro round x=20. The compositional dependence of K_ui for both alloy systems can be explained roughly by the model of the directiona; occupation of B atom between ferromagnetic atoms.     

具有宽过冷液相区的Fe62Co8-x(Cr,Mo)xNb4Zr6B20非晶态合金的热稳定性与磁性

根据制备块状非晶态合金的三条经验准则,选择了成分为Fe₆₂Co_8-xCr_xNb₄Zr₆B₂₀和Fe₆₂Co_8-xMo_xNb₄Zr₆B₂₀(x=0,2,4)的合金系.利用单辊急冷法制备出厚为30μm宽为5mm左右的条带,并用差热分析、X射线衍射以及 关键词： 过冷液相区 铁磁性 非晶态合金     

Effect of Si/Ge ratio on resistivity and thermopower in Gd5SixGe4−x magnetocaloric compounds

The effect of Si/Ge ratio on resistivity and thermopower behavior has been investigated in the magnetocaloric ferromagnetic Gd₅Si_xGe_4−x compounds with x=1.7-2.3. Microstructural studies reveal the presence of Gd₅(Si,Ge)₄-matrix phase (5:4-type) along with traces of secondary phases (5:5 or 5:3-type). The x=1.7 and 2.0 samples display the presence of a first order structural transition from orthorhombic to monoclinic phase followed by a magnetic transition of the monoclinic phase. The alloys with x=2.2 and 2.3 display only magnetic transitions of the orthorhombic phase. A low temperature feature apparent in the AC susceptibility and resistivity data below 100 K reflects an antiferromagnetic transition of secondary phase(s) present in these compounds. The resistivity behavior study correlates with microstructural studies. A large change in thermopower of −8 μV/K was obtained at the magneto-structural transition for the x=2 compound.     

Magnetostriction, Curie temperature and microstructure of Tb0.29(Dy1−xPrx)0.71Fe1.97 oriented alloys

The Tb_0.29(Dy_1−xPr_x)_0.71Fe_1.97 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) alloys were prepared by directional solidification method. The orientation, magnetostriction λ, Curie temperature T_c and microstructure of alloys were characterized by XRD, standard resistant strain gauge technique, VSM and SEM-EDS. The results reveal that the alloys have a preferred orientation of 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 3〉 direction when x>0. With the increase in Pr content, the T_c of alloys decreases gradually and the non-cubic phase appears, resulting in the decline of λ dramatically, from 1935.2×10⁻⁶ for x=0 to 695.9×10⁻⁶ for x=0.3 at a compressive stress of 6 MPa and a magnetic field of H=240 kA m⁻¹.     

Magnetic transitions in Ni1−xMox and Ni1−xWx disordered alloys

We present a mean-field study of the magnetic phase diagram of Ni_1−xMo_x and Ni_1−xW_x alloys. The pair energies that enter the internal energy part of the free energy are obtained from a first-principles calculation. We try to understand why spin-glass phase is not observed in these alloys.     

A DFT study of the electronic and magnetic properties of Fe2MnSi1−xGex alloys

We performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Fe₂MnSi_1−xGe_x alloys (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00). The lattice constant is found to increase linearly as a function of Ge concentration with a decrease in the formation energy. The total magnetic moment is found to be 3 μ_B for all alloys with the most contribution from Mn local magnetic moments. Iron atoms, however, exhibit much smaller spin moments about 10% of the bulk value. It seems that due to the proximity of Fe, magnetic moments have been induced on the sp atoms, which couple antiferromagnetically with Fe and Mn spin moments. Although, the band gap remains almost constant (0.5 eV), the spin–flip gap decreases as a function of x.     

Site preference and magnetism of Fe3−xCrxAl0.5Si0.5

In order to gain better insight into the origin of the observed differences between Fe_3−xCr_xAl and Fe_3−xCr_xSi, alloys of Fe_3−xCr_xAl_0.5Si_0.5 (x=0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.5) were prepared and studied by means of X-ray and neutron diffraction as well as by magnetization measurements. Electronic structure calculations of these alloys have been performed by means of TB-LMTO-ASA method. It was expected, and experimentally verified, that the presence of silicon and aluminum atoms in 1:1 proportion will result in the independence of the lattice parameter on the iron/chromium concentration. All samples have been proved to be a single phase of the DO₃-type of structure. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that chromium atoms locate preferentially in B sublattice. Cr magnetic moments are oriented antiparallel to Fe magnetic moments. Neutron measurements show a linear dependence of the magnetic moments of Fe(A,C), Fe(B) and Cr(B) as a function of Cr concentration. However the calculated total magnetic moment decreases faster with chromium content than indicated by the experiment.