Enhanced magnetoelastic effect in Laves (Tb,Dy)Fe2 alloys with the joint introduction of Pr and Nd

Abstract

The structural and magnetoelastic properties of (Tb0.3Dy0.7)1−x(Pr0.5Nd0.5)xFe1.93 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) polycrystalline alloys have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), a vibrating sample magnetometer and a standard strain gauge technique. A single (Tb,Dy,Pr,Nd)Fe2 Laves phase with a cubic MgCu2-type structure is formed when x ≤ 0.12, while a small amount of impurities appear when x ≥ 0.15. The easy magnetization direction at room temperature is detected toward axis. The analysis of XRD, magnetization and magnetostriction shows that the Pr and Nd elements joint introduction into (Tb,Dy)Fe2 system can reduce the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and improve the magnetoelastic properties. The (Tb0.3Dy0.7)0.88(Pr0.5Nd0.5)0.12Fe1.93 alloy exhibits a high low-field magnetostriction λa (~314 ppm/1 kOe), a large spontaneous magnetostriction coefficient λ111 (~1710 ppm), a giant saturation magnetostriction λS (~1060 ppm) and the low magnetocrystalline anisotropy at room temperature, and may make it a promising candidate for magnetostriction applications.