We have studied structure and magnetic properties of UNi1-xTxAl (T=Ir, Pt)
alloys. UNiAl does not form continuous solid solutions with either UPtAl or
UIrAl. The solubility ranges extend only to 20% from each side in both sys
tems. The alloys with 0.20<x<0.80 contain two isostructural phases with the
ZrNiAl-type structure. Ln both systems, the compounds with x greater than
or equal to 0.80 order ferromagnetically, whereas those with x less than or
equal to 0.20 exhibit metamagnetic behaviour characteristic for antiferrom
agnets like UNiAl. The initial Pt (Ir) substitutions lead to an increase (d
ecrease) of the Neel temperature whereas the critical field for metamagneti
sm becomes gradually reduced in both cases. The electronic specific-heat co
efficient gamma is strongly reduced in UNi1-xPtxAl (from 164 to 113 mf mol(
-1) K-2 for x increasing from 0 to 0.2) and enhanced in UNi1-xIrxAl (up to
198 mJ mol(-1) K-2 for x=0.2). The obtained results are discussed in the co
ntext of the effects induced by substitutions of other transition metals in
UNiAl considering the evolution of the 5f-d hybridization. (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science S.A. All rights reserved.