CRYSTAL-GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FE2-X(XTI1)

Fe2Ti belongs to the hexagonal Laves phases, and single crystals are o f great scientific interest with respect to their complicated magnetic properties. Up to now only small single crystals no larger than 10 mm are known. In spite of the already known phase diagram, melt crystall ization has unusual difficulties: (1) the congruent melting point is s ensitive to very small changes in the concentration, (2) the solidifie d melt cracks during further cooling and (3) the melt is very aggressi ve against standard crucible materials. Therefore, different crucible- free growth methods were tried. Finally we got single crystals of 3 mm x 4 mm x 25 mm size by Czochralski growth from a levitated melt. Inve stigation of the susceptibility showed significant differences between single crystals and polycrystalline material.