Magnetic transitions and magnetostrictive properties of Laves compounds Sm0.88Nd0.12(Fe1−xCox)1.93

The structure, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of Sm(0.88)Nd(0.12)(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(1.93) (0 <= x <= 1.0) alloys have been investigated. The alloys have the cubic MgCu(2) structure over the whole composition range and the lattice parameter a decreases with increasing x. For 0 <= x <= 0.2, substitution of Co for Fe slightly increases the saturation magnetization M(s) and Curie temperature T(c), while further substitution causes a decrease in both M(s) and T(c). The spin reorientation is observed, and a phase diagram for the spin configurations of the Sm(0.88)Nd(0.12)(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(1.93) system is determined. The spontaneous magnetostriction lambda(111) increases as x is increased, while a monotonic decrease of the saturation magnetostriction lambda(s) with x originates from the increase of lambda(100) with opposite sign to that of lambda(111), which may be caused by the filling of the d band due to Co substitution. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.