Optimization on magnetic anisotropy and magnetostriction in Tb Ho0.8−Pr0.2(Fe0.8Co0.2)1.93 compounds

The structure, magnetocrystalline anisotropy compensation, magnetic properties, and magnetostriction of TbxHo0.8-xPr0.2(Fe0.8Co0.2)(1.93) (0 axis (x axis (x >= 0.15), accompanied by a rhombohedral distortion with large spontaneous magnetostriction coefficients lambda(m). The analysis of XRD, [MD and magnetostriction shows that TbxHo0.8-xPr0.2(Fe0.8Co0.2)(1.93) is an anisotropy compensation system, and the critical compensation point is realized around x=0.15, which shifts to the Tb-poor side compared with the Pr-free counterpart. An optimized effect on magnetostriction especially at a relatively low field (lambda(S)similar to 445 ppm, lambda(a)similar to 510 ppm/3 kOe) was obtained in Tb0.15Ho0.65Pr0.2(Fe0.8Co0.2)(1.93) compound, which is much larger than that of the Pr-free counterpart Tb0.15Ho0.85(Fe0.8Co0.2)(1.93) (lambda(S)similar to 300 ppm) and the Tb0.15Ho0.85Fe2 (lambda(S)similar to 325 ppm), due to the 20 at% Pr introduction. Low content of heavy rare earth Tb, low anisotropy, high saturation magnetostriction and large low-field magnetostriction are obtained in Tb0.15Ho0.65Pr0.2(Fe0.8Co0.2)(1.93) compound, which may make it a promising magnetostrictive material. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.