Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Half-Metallic Co 2 MnAl Heusler Alloy

Magnetic and structural characterization of full Heusler Co 2 MnAl alloys prepared by rapid quenching from pure elements was studied. This technique allows a fast production of relatively a large amount of Heusler alloys without the necessity of further thermal treatment. The Heusler alloys have been prepared by the melt-spinning method in the form of ribbons with homogeneous chemical composition ( ${\rm Co}=46.1$ %, ${\rm Mn}=29.4$ %, and ${\rm Al} =24.5$ %). The X-ray diffraction shows a single-phase B2 crystalline structure with lattice parameter $a=5.671$ A. Magnetic measurements reveal an anisotropic character of the Co 2 MnAl ribbon with easy magnetization axis well defined in parallel direction with respect to the ribbon plane. Curie temperature was estimated from magnetization measurement to be 710 K.