Investigations of Sm6(Mnsub(1-x)Fesub(x))23 system

The new Sm6(Mnsub(1-x)Fesub(x))23(0 <= x <= 1.0) system has been synthesized and investigated in a wide temperature range by the X-ray, magnetometric and Moessbauer effect methods. The X-ray studies show that the system forms solid solutions which are isostructural with the Th6Mn23 type crystal structure throughout the entire compositional range. Both Fe-rich and Mn-rich regions of the system are magnetically ordered and are separated from each other by the non-magnetically ordered 0.22 <= x <= 0.33 region. The substitution of Fe atoms for Mn atoms in the Mn-rich region and similarly of Mn atoms for Fe atoms in the Fe-rich region decreases both the Curie temperature and the value of the magnetic moment per molecule. The temperature dependence of the reciprocal susceptibility obeys the Neel law. The Moessbauer absorption spectra reflect wide distributions of the 57Fe hyperfine interaction parameters, and disappearance of long range magnetic coupling of Fe atoms in the magnetically ordered x=0 to 0.22 composition range. (orig.)