Magnetic studies of intermetallic compounds Al3R (Al11R3) both in the solid and liquid states

• Published in: Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol. 353; no. 32-40; pp. 3094 - 3098
• Main Authors: Sidorov, V.E., Gornov, O.A., Bykov, V.A., Son, L.D., Shevchenko, V.G., Kononenko, V.I., Shunyaev, K.Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-10-2007
• Subjects: Liquid alloys and liquid metals; Magnetic properties; Phases and equilibria; 71.20.Lp; Liquid alloys and liquid metals; 75.20.En; Phases and equilibria; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0022-3093; 1873-4812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2007.05.041

The magnetic susceptibility of Al3R and Al11R3 (R=Ce, Pr, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Yb) compounds is investigated over wide temperature (300–1900K) and field (0.2–1.2T) ranges. It is found that microinclusions of Al2R can exist in the samples. They are not detectable in ordinary X-ray diffraction but give a significant contribution to the magnetic properties. The average effective magnetic moment per rare-earth atom changes through the rare-earth metals line reaching its maximum for holmium but rather lower than for the pure rare-earth metals. It means that rare-earth elements form covalent bonds with aluminum. These bonds remain in the liquid phase and begin to break down after melting point of Al2R only. The transition into a true solution state of the melt is somewhere above 1900K.