Structure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nonstoichiometric TbCo2Nix compounds

The structure and magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of new nonstoichiometric TbCo 2 Ni x compounds (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) have been studied. The alloys with х ≤ 0.1 have been shown to be single-phase with the MgCu 2 -type structure; in alloys with х > 0.1, an additional phase with a PuNi 3 -type structure has been formed. It has been found that the concentration dependences of the Curie temperature and magnetic moment of the 3 d -metal sublattice have a maximum at x = 0.025. The magnetocaloric effect magnitude for the TbCo 2 Ni x compounds has been estimated using the results of magnetic and heat-capacity measurements.