The effect of Mo substitution on the phase formation and magnetic properties of RE2(Fe1-xMox)(17) alloys (RE = Nd, Gd)

The phase formation and magnetic properties of RE2(Fe1-xMox)(17) alloys (RE = Nd, Gd; 0.00 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.10) have be en investigated by X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The samples were prepared by are melting and annealing at 1100 degrees C. The Rietveld method was employed to perform a quantitative determination of phase compo sition and lattice parameters, Our results suggest that the substitution of Mo in 2:17 is low. In the 0.00 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.05 composition range, samples are almost single phase with the rhomboh edral Th2Zn17-type crystal structure; with the substitution of Fe for Mo a slight lattice expansion is induced. For higher Mo concentrations, this pha se co-exists with a certain amount of spurious phases. The saturation magne tization and Curie temperatures do not show remarkable variations when Mo r eplaces Fe in Nd-2(Fe1-xMox)(17) samples. In Gd-2(Fe1-xMox)(17) the increas e in the Mo content leads to a decrease in both physical quantities. (C) 19 99 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.