MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF SM2FE14-XCOXAL3 COMPOUNDS

Compounds in the series Sm2Fe14-xCoxAl3 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) have been shown to be of the Th2Zn17 structure. The Curie temperature is f ound to increase monotonically from a critical temperature, T-c equal to 471 K for the x = 0 sample, to T-c = 681 K for the x= 5 sample. X-r ay diffraction measurements of magnetic field oriented powders showed that all compounds exhibit a room temperature uniaxial anisotropy. Mag netization measurements show that the magnetic anisotropy of Sm2Fe14Al 3 can be increased substantially by the substitution of even a small q uantity of Co for Fe. Results are discussed in terms of possible appli cations of these compounds as particulate recording media.