Magnetostriction and Magnetic Anisotropy of (Pr0.5Nd0.5)1−xCexFe1.93 Alloys

Abstract

Polycrystalline alloys of (Pr0.5Nd0.5)1−xCexFe1.93 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) are arc melted and investigated for structural, magnetic, and magnetoelastic properties. The light rare earth Ce presents a mixed-valence behavior and helps form a single C15 Laves phase for the composition of x ≥ 0.40. Both the lattice parameter a and the saturation magnetization MS of the Laves phase decrease with increasing Ce content, and the dependence of a on the Ce concentration deviates the linear Vegard law. The easy direction of magnetization (EMD) at room temperature is detected toward axis by performing X-ray diffraction on magnetic-field–aligned powders. The Ce introduction into (Pr,Nd)Fe2 system can reduce the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, resulting in an enhancement of the magnetostriction at low magnetic fields. The good magnetoelastic properties, that is, a low anisotropy and a high low-field anisotropic magnetostriction λa ~ 165 ppm at 1 kOe, can be obtained for the free-heavy rare earth (Pr0.5Nd0.5)0.6Ce0.4Fe1.93 alloy, and may make it a promising candidate for applications.