Phase diagram and compounds of the Gd-Fe-Nb ternary alloy system in the Fe-rich corner

Abstract

The room-temperature phase diagram of the Gd-Fe-Nb ternary alloy system in the Fe-rich corner has been investigated by means of x-ray powder diffraction and thermomagnetic scans. In the system there exist (x = 0-1.0) `2:17' (-type structure), `1:12' (-type structure) and a new compound (x = 0.9-1.3, Curie temperature ). The homogeneous ranges of the three above mentioned compounds are determined by a precise lattice parameter method. Further annealing the new compounds at for 10 days results in no trace of decomposition, implying that may be a room-temperature phase.