Evidence of weak ferromagnetism in the C14 Laves phase (Fe_(1-x)Co_x)_2Nb system

摘要

In this work are studied the structure and magnetic properties of the (Fe_(1-x)Co_x)_2Nb alloys with X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. The results confirm the formation of the C14 Laves phase in the Co concentration range 0 < = x < = 0.55. The unit cell volume decreases with the increase of the cobalt concentration and is larger than in Fe_2 Nb. Magnetization measurements indicate that this system is weakly ferromagnetic at low temperatures forx < 0.55. From the behavior of the M(T) curves a cluster-glass-like mechanism is predicted for this system below 50 K.