Formation, structural and magnetic properties of Gd-3(Co,Cr)(29) compounds

Co-based Gd3Co29-xCrx compounds with a Nd-3(Fe,Ti)(29)-type of structure ha ve been synthesized successfully for x=6.5 and 7.0. The crystal structure a nd magnetic properties of the Gd3Co29-xCrx compounds have been investigated by x-ray diffraction analysis and magnetic measurements. It has been found that Gd-3(Co,Cr)(29) with x=6.5 and 7.0 are of ferrimagnetic compounds wit h Curie temperature of 412 K for x=6.5 and 359 K for x=7.0, respectively. T emperature dependence of the magnetization shows a compensation point of th e magnetization at the certain temperature below the Curie temperature. The intersublattice molecular field coefficient, n(RT), was derived to be 3.3 T f.u./mu (B) for Gd3Co22.5Cr6.5 on the basis of the magnetization curve at the compensation temperature. It is noteworthy that the Gd-3(Co,Cr)(29) co mpounds exhibit favorable easy-axis anisotropy in the whole temperature ran ge below Curie temperature. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.