Magnetic, structural and superconducting properties of MgC(Ni1 - xFe x)3

X-ray diffraction, ac susceptibility and 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements have been performed in the MgC(Ni1-xFex ) (0 £ x £ 0.5) series. The superconducting transition temperature Tc of the undoped sample, determined by ac susceptibility, is ~ 7K. The Fe doping quickly depresses Tc, completely destroying the superconducting state for x ~ 0.04. The establishment of an ordered magnetic state is only observed for Fe concentration (x ³ 0.3) far above the concentration for which the superconducting state has completely disappeared. An expansion of the lattice with the increase of the Fe content was observed.