Magnetic properties and thermal stability of PrFe2 compound

It is thought that Pr ions make a large contribution to the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostriction of Pr-Fe intermetallic compounds. It was estimated that the magnetostriction of PrFe2 is larger than that of TbFe2 at 0 K. In this paper, polycrystalline PrFe2 was prepared by a high-pressure synthesis method. Its structure, magnetic properties and thermal stability were investigated. For a multi-phase specimen, the magnetostriction constant, lambda(parallel to)-lambda(perpendicular to) is 1030x10(-6), comparable to that of Terfenol-D and might be larger if the single phase PrFe2 could be obtained. The PrFe2 compound becomes unstable and decomposes into Pr and Fe above 630 K, so it cannot be obtained by high temperature method under normal atmosphere. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.