MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURE OF HYDROGEN-AMORPHIZED INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS RFE2HX (R=Y, GD, TB, DY, HO, ER)

The magnetic properties and structure of hydrogen-amorphized RFe2Hx co mpounds (R=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) have been studied. It is shown that amorphization of the RFe2Hx hydrides results in an increase of Fe-Fe, and a decrease of R-Fe exchange interaction energy compared to their c rystalline hydride counterparts. The magnetic structure of amorphous R Fe2Hx compounds, with the exception of those with R=Y and Gd is appare ntly noncollinear ferrimagnetic, as in the crystalline hydrides. A mod el of the heterophase state of amorphous RFe2Hx hydrides based on x-ra y diffraction and magnetic data is proposed. (C) 1997 American Institu te of Physics.