Stabilization of iron-rich NdFe13-xBex compounds

We have synthesized a new Fe-rich material, NdFe13-xBex (x = 2-5) that crys tallizes in the NaZn13 type cubic structure. Structural and magnetic proper ties of this material have been investigated. Stabilization of the single p hase NaZn13 type cubic structure is limited to x = 2-4. The magnetic proper ties of this system are quite complex, as anomalously low magnetic moments are observed in this system, and no saturation is achieved in M versus mu H -0 measurements in fields up to 5 T. The magnetization decreases as the con tent of Fe increases; such behavior is typical for the Invar alloys. (C) 20 01 American Institute of Physics.