Magnetic properties of Mn2PdSn and Mn2PdIn

New Mn2PdZ (Z=In, Sn) alloys have been synthesized. Both alloys crystallize in a Heusler-type cubic structure. The lattice parameters of solution-treated Mn2PdSn and Mn2PdIn were found to be 6.351 Å and 6.399 Å, respectively. Magnetization measurements were carried out under magnetic fields up to 68 kOe. Both the solution-treated alloys have spontaneous magnetizations. The magnetic moment at 6 K and the Curie temperature of solution-treated Mn2PdSn were estimated to be 1.70 μB/f.u. and 411 K, respectively. The magnetic moment at 6 K of solution-treated Mn2PdIn was found to be 0.59 μB/f.u.. Ageing heat treatments at 673 K on these alloy, instead of an increase of degree of atomic order, resulted in phase decomposition. Thin-plate precipitates and a very fine Widmanstätten morphology were found for the aged Mn2PdSn and Mn2PdIn alloys, respectively.