Magnetic properties of Nd2Co17−xSix compounds

Abstract The structure and magnetic properties of Nd 2 Co 17− x Si x compounds with Si concentrations up to 2 were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. All compounds crystallize in the rhombohedral Th 2 Zn 17 -type of structure and show easy-plane anisotropy at room temperature. No spin reorientations do occur in the investigated Nd 2 Co 17− x Si x compounds between room temperature and the Curie temperatures. The spontaneous moment and the Curie temperature decrease strongly with increasing Si concentration. Rotation alignment was employed to align the fine powder particles along their c -axis at room temperature. The anisotropy constant K 1 was derived by means of the Sucksmith–Thompson method. The anisotropy field H A and | K 1 | were found to decrease monotonically with increasing Si concentration.