Magnetic properties of ZrNi5−xInx (0⩽x⩽1) ternary system

Abstract Magnetisation was measured for the series of ZrNi5−xInx (x=0, 0.25. 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) alloys over the temperature range 1.75–700 K in applied field up to 50 kOe. All materials studied crystallise in the AuGe5-type crystal structure. Alloys with x=0, 0.25 and 0.5 were found to be ferromagnets with relatively high transition temperatures, Tc, dependent on the indium concentration (from Tc=368 K for x=0.5 up to 647 K for x=0). The measured saturation magnetic moments are fully connected with nickel atom; the Zr and In moments are negligible. An environment-dependent model for the formation of Ni moments is suggested. The critical concentration of Ni for the onset of long-range ferromagnetic order in ZrNi5−xInx is estimated as 4.5 atoms/f.u. (75 at%), approximately. The long-range magnetic order is determined by the number of the nearest neighbours of Ni atoms occupying 16(e) positions. Alloys with x=0.75 and 1.0 exhibit Pauli paramagnetism.