Magnetostriction and anisotropy compensation in Tb<inf>x</inf> Dy <inf>0.9-x</inf> Nd<inf>0.1</inf> Fe<inf>1.93</inf> [0.2&lt;x&lt;0.4]

Structure and magnetostriction of Tbx Dy0.9-x Nd 0.1 Fe1.93 (0.2<x<0.4) compounds are investigated. All the compounds are found to stabilize in MgCu2 -type C15 cubic Laves phase structure. The easy magnetization direction changes from 〈 100 〉 (x=0.2) to 〈 111 〉 (x=0.3) through an intermediate state at x=0.25. Anisotropy compensation is realized near x=0.25 for the Tbx Dy0.9-x Nd0.1 Fe1.93 compounds. The Laves phase compound Tb0.4 Dy0.5 Nd0.1 Fe1.93 has large spontaneous magnetostriction (1670× 10-6) and a low anisotropy at room temperature which could make it a good candidate material for magnetostriction applications. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.