Effect of Zr substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of the series Nd1−xZrxFe10Si2 with the ThMn12 type structure

Alloys of the ThMn12-type structure with the general formula Nd1−xZrxFe10Si2 (0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) have been prepared by arc-melting the constituent elements. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements indicate the formation of the tetragonal ThMn12-type structure with substitution of Nd with Zr, without further annealing. The lattice parameters a and c and the unit cell volume follow Vegard's law the metallic radius of the Zr (1.602 Å) substitution being smaller than that of the Nd (1.821 Å) metallic radius. The Curie temperature decreases linearly with Zr substitution from 301 °C for x = 0 to 285 °C for x = 0.8. The saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy fields were also measured as a function of Zr substitution with the room temperature values ranging from 12.5 kG and 30 kOe for x = 0.4 to 11.2 kG and 26 kOe for x = 0.8. The success of this synthesis contributes to the search for novel magnetic phases, lean or free of critical raw materials, towards a new generation of permanent magnets.