Large spontaneous volume magnetostriction of Mn-Rh alloys

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves and the temperature depe ndence of magnetic susceptibility for gamma-MnRh ordered alloys marked peak associated with the magnetic transition. The Neel temperature of Mn7 7Rh2 3 and Mn7 5Rh2 5 ordered alloys is determined to be about 830 and 850 K, re spectively. The paramagnetic susceptibility increases with increasing tempe rature, showing an itinerant electron characteristics. The thermal expansio n coefficient becomes small below the Neel temperature due to a targe spont aneous volume magnetostriction, taking about 5 X 10(-6)/K around room tempe rature. Such alloys with a small thermal expansion coefficient would induce some strain in multilayers because of the difference between the thermal e xpansion.