Abstract
The magnetic properties of hexagonal Y2(Co1−xMx)17 intermetallics with M=Al and Cu and x≤0.18 have been studied using the single crystals over a temperature range from 77 to 477 K. In the case of M=Al, the saturation moment and the Curie temperature decrease rapidly with Al content and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant K1 changes sign from negative to positive at small x and all temperatures studied, for example, at x=0.118 and 77 K. In the case of M=Cu, however, the magnetic properties do not change so remarkably. The variation in K1 with Al and Cu contents can be well explained by the partially preferential occupancy of Al and the random occupancy of Cu for Co in the respective crystals.
