TEM investigation of dislocations in RNi2B2C (R = Y, Tb, Ho, Er, Y0.6Tb0.4, Er0.8Tb0.2)

To evaluate the influence of different rare earth metals on dislocation typ e and stacking fault occurrence in RNi2B2C compounds samples with R = Y, Tb , Ho, Er, Y0.6Tb0.4 and Er0.8Tb0.2 were investigated. As a result of the TE M analysis the parameter decisive for the lattice defects in these compound s is not the type of components but the annealing treatment of the samples. In well homogenized material the dominant Burgers vector of perfect disloc ations was <100] and stacking faults are hardly found. In inhomogeneous sam ples the dominant Burgers vector was <110] and the perfect dislocations oft en lie in the planes of the numerous stacking faults. In both types of mate rials the experimental results hint at the existence of two different slip systems.