Magnetostriction and magnetization of the intermetallic compounds RFe2 − x Co x (R = Tb, Dy, Er) with compensated magnetic anisotropy

Abstract

The compounds Tb0.35Dy0.45Er0.2Fe2 − x Co x (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) are synthesized in both polycrystalline and single-crystal states. The composition of the new multicomponent alloys with compensated magnetic anisotropy is calculated in the framework of the single-ion magnetic anisotropy model with allowance for the data on the temperature dependences of the magnetic anisotropy constants for RFe2 single crystals. The synthesized compounds are characterized using metallographic, chemical, X-ray diffraction, and thermomagnetic methods. A combined analysis of the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties is also carried out. It is established that the high magnetostriction characteristics of the rare-earth intermetallic compounds Tb0.35Dy0.45Er0.2Fe2 − x Co x with a structure of Laves phases are observed in the region of the spin-reorientational phase transition whose temperature can be varied by properly choosing the Co content. It is found that, in the room-temperature region, the magnetic susceptibility (dλ/dH) of the composition with x = 1.3 reaches levels in excess of the value of dλ/dH for terphenol D due to the compensation of magnetic anisotropy.