Magnetic properties of Co50−xNixMn25Al25 alloys with B2 structure

Magnetic properties of the B2 phase in Co50−xNixMn25Al25 alloys were investigated. Spontaneous magnetization Ms measured at 4.2 K increases linearly with increasing x in the region of x ≤ 30 in accordance with following the generalized Slater-Pauling (GSP) line. However, Ms abruptly decreases with increasing x and deviates from the GSP line in the Ni-rich region of x > 30, suggesting a drastic change in the density of states at the Fermi energy. The Curie temperature TC decreases monotonically with increasing x and significantly decreases in the region of x > 30. Antiferromagnetic evidence is clearly observed at x > 45, and the Néel temperature TN increases with increasing x, in reaching the value of the B2 phase in Ni2MnAl.