Neutron diffraction studies of ErNi/sub 5-x/Co/sub x/ (x=0.68, 1.68, 2.26) alloys

ErNi/sub 5-x/Co/sub x/ alloys were prepared by RF induction melting and analyzed using neutron powder diffraction. Rietveld analysis neutron diffraction data indicates the unit cell volume increases with Co content while the a and c lattice parameters show different dependencies on the composition. The Co atoms show higher affinity for the 3g sites than for the 2c sites. The Co sublattice tends to couple antiferromagnetically to the Er sublattice. The easy magnetization direction is along the c axis.