Structural, magnetic, and magnetostrictive properties of Tb[sub 1-x]Nd[sub x](Fe[sub 0.9]B[sub 0.1])₂ alloys

Abstract

The crystal structure, magnetization, and spontaneous magnetostriction of Tb[sub 1-x]Nd[sub x](Fe[sub 0.9]B[sub 0.1])₂ alloys have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the alloys consist predominantly of the cubic Laves phase with a MgCu₂-type structure for x ≤ 0.55. Increasing in lattice parameter and decreasing in Curie temperature with increasing x from 0 to 0.55 reveals an increment in the Nd content in the Laves phase. The (440) XRD line of the Laves phase splits doubly when x ≤ 0.7 because of a large spontaneous magnetostriction along its <111> easy magnetization direction. The magnetostriction coefficient λ111 decreases significantly with increasing x when 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.55. For x ≥ 0.7, it is difficult to achieve saturation magnetization at room temperature due to increased amount of theNd₂Fe₁₄B-type phase with large magnetocrystalline anisotropy.