Spin configuration and magnetostriction in Nd0.9Tb0.1(Fe1−xCox)1.9 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.55) alloys

Polycrystalline magnetostrictive alloys Nd0.9Tb0.1(Fe1−xCox)1.9 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.55) were synthesized by high-pressure annealing. Measurements of crystal structure, Curie temperature, magnetization, spin-reorientation temperature and magnetostriction were made on the alloys. X-ray diffraction results show that all the samples exhibit cubic Laves phase with MgCu2-type structure. The variations of Curie temperature and saturation magnetization are interpretable due to 3d band filling. The spin configuration diagram of Nd0.9Tb0.1(Fe1−xCox)1.9 was constructed. The spin-reorientation temperatures of the samples first increase and then decrease with the substitution of Co for Fe. The anisotropy minimum and low-filed large magnetostriction is realized around x = 0.05.