MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES AND INTERACTION OF ER3NI WITH HYDROGEN AND NITROGEN

The interaction of Er3Ni with hydrogen was studied in the temperature range of 293-243 K. The reaction at room temperature and hydrogen pres sure of 20 atm leads to formation of amorphous hydride phase. Hydridin g Er3Ni at the low temperature (253-243 K) and low pressure (<1 atm) l eads to synthesis of individual hydride with formula Er3NiH8 and struc ture of initial intermetallic compound. Hydride, formed in this condit ion has a high degree of crystallization. It is indexed oraaathorhombi caly and the lattice constants have been measured. The exposure to vac uum of formed hydride for a few hours at the temperature of 873 K does not recover of initial intermetallic phase, but it is characterized b y disproportionation to ErNi and ErH2. The interaction of Er3Ni with n itrogen was studied at the pressure up to 40 atm in the temperature ra nge of 873-1073 K.The magnetic properties of the crystalline Er3Ni and Er3NiH8 in the paramagnetic region are reported. Copyright (C) 1997 I nternational Association for Hydrogen Energy.