Magnetic properties of some gadolinium—Cobalt intermetallic compounds

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of the single crystals having the compositions of GdCo₃, Gd₂Co₇, GdCo₅, Gd_2.2Co_16.6 and Gd₂Co₁₇ were studied in order to contribute to the investigation of the magnetic anisotropy in the Gd–Co system. The single crystal used were prepared by means of the Bridgman method using BN-coated alumina crucibles.The room-temperature magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants K₁ of GdCo₃, Gd₂Co₇, GdCo₅, Gd_2.2Co_16.6 and Gd₂Co₁₇ are determined as 8.1 × 10⁶, 1.3 × 10⁷, 4.1 × 10⁷, 3.0 × 10⁶ and -2.7 × 10⁶ erg/cm³, respectively. it is also found that the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Gd–Co phases in the stable region of the Th₂Zn₁₇-type structure changes very sensitively from negative to positive as the ratio Gd/Co increases above the stoichiometric ratio of 2/17.