Low-temperature physical properties of U3Pd20Si6

We report on the magnetic properties of single crystals of U3Pd20Si6 which crystallizes in the cubic C6Cr23-type structure with U being located on two different crystallographic sites. The electrical resistivity shows a metal lic behavior at higher temperatures and two successive magnetic phase trans itions are found in the specific heat and the magnetic susceptibility at 19 and 2 K. The temperature dependence of susceptibility obeys the Curie-Weis s law above about 50 K with an effective moment 3.30 mu(B)/U. Magnetic entr opy reaches Rln3 per uranium ion at 19 K. These results suggests that U3Pd2 0Si6 is a typical localized 5f electron system and a rare metallic uranium compound. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.