Magnetic properties of RFe10.5Mo1.5Cx and their nitrides

RFe10.5Mo1.5Cx (R = Y, Nd, and Dy; x = 0 - 0.6) have been successfully synt hesized by are melting, then followed by a gas-solid phase reaction to form YFe10.5Mo1.5CxNy. X-ray diffraction studies and thermomagnetic analysis sh ow that all samples are of good single phase, and carbides and carbon nitri des remain the ThMn12-type structure. The addition of carbon atoms has an e ffect of improving the magnetic properties. Both Curie temperature and satu ration magnetization are found to be increased with carbon concentration x in the RFe10.5Mo1.5Cx series, and the carbon atoms also affect the magnetoc rystalline anisotropy. The easy axial anisotropy of NdFe10.5Mo1.5Cx and DyF e10.5Mo1.5Cx is enhanced. As to the nitrides, the results indicate that YFe 10.5Mo1.5CxNy possess a higher Curie temperature and a larger saturation ma gnetization than YFe10.5Mo1.5Ny, which is of significance in the technical applications. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.