Magnetic properties of RFe6Al6 alloys with R=Y,Dy

Intermetallics crystallizing in ThMn₁₂ type structure were investigated. Magnetostatic measurements showed that the magnetic ordering temperature and the magnetic moment of YFe₆Al₆ samples depend strongly on thermal and mechanical treatment. These measurements for a powdered sample of YFe₆Al₆ showed that the alloy was a ferromagnet with a Curie temperatureT _C =265 K and a magnetic moment μ=5.1 μ_B/f.u. at 77.4 K. From X-ray, magnetostatic and Mössbauer effect measurements it appears that the Fe atoms prefer the 8j and 8f crystallographic positions. Magnetostatic measurements for a powdered sample of DyFe₆Al₆ showed that this alloy was a ferrimagnet with the ordering temperatureT ₀=311 K and magnetic moment μ=1.1 μ_B/f.u. at 77.4 K.