MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF ER2FE17-XALXNY COMPOUNDS

Structural and magnetic properties of the Er2Fe17-xAlxNy compounds (O less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 3) have been investigate d. All nitrides and parent compounds crystallize in the Tb2Ni17 StruCt ure. Al substituted for Fe leads to an increase in lattice constants a and c. Introduction of nitrogen results in a further increase of latt ice constants, but the magnitude of this increase is smaller for incre asing x. As Al content increases, the Curie temperature of the parent compound increases, whereas the Curie temperature of the nitride decre ases. The substitution of Al for Fe results in a decrease of Fe moment in both nitrides and parent compounds. Introduction of nitrogen leads to an increase in the uniaxial anisotropy of the Er sublattice and a spin reorientation. A tentative spin phase diagram has been constructe d.