STRUCTURE AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF LaCo13-BASED ALLOYS

The structure and magnetic properties of two series of LaCois-based alloys, LaCo_13-xFe_x(0≤x≤6) and La_1-xR_x(Co, Fe)₁₃ (x=0.1,0.2; R=Y, Ge, Pr, Nd Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb), are studied by X-ray diffraction and magnetic mea- surements. In the above-mentioned composotions, all the samples display a structure of NaZn₁₃ type (space group: Fm3c). In LaCo_13-xFe_x system, as the iron content increases, its Curie temperature decreases, while thc magnetic moment per 3d atom increases. This may be explained by a rigid band model. In the other alloy system, the Curie temperature goes through a maxium at R=Gd, and this reflects the influ- ence of R - T interaction. It is also observed that saturation magnetization varies with R and gets lower when R is a heavy rare earth element. The contribution of R is close to that of a free-ion moment. La_0.9Pr_0.1Co₉Fe₄ has the largest value 29$\mu$_B/f.u.