Mössbauer spectral and magnetic investigations of RFe10Cr2 compounds (R=rare earth)

Abstract

The results of X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer investigations of RFe10Cr2 intermetallic compounds (R=Y, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) are presented and discussed. The variation with a sample composition of the lattice constants, unit cell volume, Curie temperature, iron and rare earth magnetic moments, magnetic anisotropy field and 57Fe hyperfine interaction parameters are shown. The Curie temperatures of the RFe10Cr2 series follow the same trend as in other R-Fe compounds and range from 466 K (for TmFe10Cr2) to 585 K (for GdFe10Cr2). Spin reorientation transition phenomena caused by the competition between the rare earth and iron sublattice magnetic anisotropies are observed for R=Tb, Dy and Er. The sample composition has little influence on the 57Fe hyperfine interaction parameters. The numerical analysis of Mössbauer spectra shows that chromium atoms have a pronounced preference for occupying 8i sublattice in the whole series of the investigated compounds. From the magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer data the approximate values of iron and rare earth magnetic moments are derived.