MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF THE U1-XGDXNI2 SYSTEM

The magnetic properties of U1-xGdxNi2 systems in the 4-600 K temperatu re range and fields up to 8 T were studied. UNi2 is a weak itinerant f erromagnet; uranium shows a small magnetic contribution, and nickel in this system is not magnetic. Replacing gadolinium for uranium leads t o an increase of spontaneous magnetisation and Curie temperatures up t o 7 mu(B)/f.u. and 86 K, respectively. Above the transition temperatur es the systems show a Curie-Weiss-type paramagnetism. The effective ma gnetic moment per gadolinium atom in all composition ranges is close t o that of gadolinium free ion. The magnetic properties were correlated with the structural data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.