Phase stability and magnetic properties of Ni50Mn50−xInx Heusler-type alloys

The order–disorder transformation and the magnetic properties of Heusler-type Ni50Mn50−xInx ternary alloys were investigated. The B2/L21 order–disorder transformation temperatures are detected at about 800–1100 K. In the alloys with the L21 structure, while the spontaneous magnetization at 4.2 K monotonically decreases with increasing x, the Curie temperature is almost constant with x ⩽ 25 and decreases linearly with x > 25. This unique behavior is qualitatively explained by the concept of local magnetic moment of Mn atoms.