Magnetic Properties of Tb(Ni1–xFex)3 (x = 0.2, 0.6) Crystalline Compounds and Powders.

In the paper we present and discuss magnetic properties of the Tb(Ni_1–xFe_x)3 (x = 0:2, 0.6) crystalline compounds and their ball-milled powders. The investigated samples are polycrystalline and crystallize in the rhombohedral PuNi3 type of crystal structure. The Curie temperature of the material seems to be independent of particle size and is constant. The coercivity depends on the amount of iron dopant. The saturation magnetization decreases after mechanical grinding which is connected with the reduction in particle size. After 6 h milling time the SEM results show the presence of nanoflakes with thickness up to 100 nm or even smaller. Moreover, the pulverization leads to the observed decrease of magnetocaloric effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]