Magnetic properties and transformation of crystal structure in the ErFe{sub 2}-ErAl{sub 2} system

Journal Article · Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4916353· OSTI ID:22399339

Miller, M. ^[1]; Koshkid'ko, Y. ^[1]; Mikhailova, A.; Kolchugina, N. ^[2]; Nenkov, K. ^[1]; Hackamer, A. ^[3]

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1. International Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields and Low Temperatures, PAS, Wroclaw, Poland, 53-421 (Poland)
2. Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, RAS, Moscow, Russia, 119991 (Russian Federation)
3. Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, PAS, Wroclaw, Poland, 50-422 (Poland)

The modification of structural properties and magnetic behaviour of the ErFe{sub 2−x}Al{sub x} Laves phase intermetallic compounds have been studied while changing the Al content in the range 0.36 ≤ x ≤ 1.5. Powder X-ray diffraction study at room temperature showed the formation of the cubic C15 structure, in the samples with Al content of 0.36 ≤ x < 0.75 and 1.4 ≤ x ≤ 2.0. For the intermediate compositions with 0.75 ≤ x ≤ 1.4, the hexagonal C14 structure is observed. Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline ErFe{sub 2−x}Al{sub x} intermetallic compounds were investigated experimentally using magnetic and heat capacity measurements. The Curie temperature T{sub C} decreases from 275 to 28 K as the Al content increases from x = 0.36 to x = 1.5, respectively. Magnetization measurements in strong magnetic fields showed the complex mechanism of magnetic saturation in the studied compounds. Under an external field change from 0 to 2 T, the maximum entropy change is 6 J/kg K at T = 28 K for the composition with x = 1.5. The minimum in the concentration dependence of the magnetic entropy change is observed in the vicinity of x equal to 1.25. Regularities of variations of magnetocaloric properties of ErFe{sub 2−x}Al{sub x} intermetallic compounds with increasing Al content are discussed from the point of view of their both structural and magnetic states.

• OSTI ID: 22399339
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALUMINIUM
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURIE POINT
ENTROPY
ERBIUM
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRON
LAVES PHASES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIZATION
POLYCRYSTALS
POWDERS
SPECIFIC HEAT
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
X-RAY DIFFRACTION