On magnetism in the quasicrystalline Ti45Zr38Ni17 alloy

Magnetism of 3D quasicrystals is extensively researched, mainly for rare-earth or iron-based alloys. In this contribution, magnetic properties of the icosahedral Ti45Zr38Ni17 quasicrystal are reported. Namely, the results of magnetometric and neutron diffraction studies in the broad temperature ranges of 1.5-300 K and 2-700 K respectively are discussed. The magnetometric studies reveal that the alloy exhibits an extremely weak ferromagnetic signal, however it is associated with the traces of nickel clusters at the grains boundaries. The neutron scattering studies, including diffraction in external magnetic field, indicate no possibility of long-rage magnetic ordering in the icosahedral Ti45Zr38Ni17 alloy. According to our studies, the investigated material exhibits Pauli-like paramagnetic behaviour.