Transmission electron microscopy study of structural disorder in Sm(Co0.5Cu0.5)5 alloy

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy studies have been carried out in heat-treated Sm(Co 0.5 Cu 0.5 ) 5 samples. The occurrence of heavily planar faulted regions have been observed. X-ray microanalysis shows a relative increase of Sm and Cu content in the faulted regions compared to the non-faulted ones. The origin and type of disorder is discussed from the crystallographic point of view and related to the pinning magnetisation mechanism reported for this type of alloy.