Effects of rapid quenching on the structural and magnetic properties of the Heusler alloy Cu2MnSn

The Heusler alloy Cu₂MnSn has been prepared by two methods; (1) the conventional method of annealing for an extended period of time just below the melting temperature, followed by quenching into ice water, and (2) rapid quenching from the melt onto the surface of a rotating Cu disc. X-ray diffraction and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer effect measurements show that the annealed sample contains a significant quantity of a non-magnetic impurity phase while the rapidly quenched sample is essentially free from non-Heusler phases.