Magnetic anisotropy and magnetisation processes in 3:29, 1:12 and 2:17 type Nd:(Fe, Co, Ti) related compounds

A study of the composition and temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy has been performed in the pseudo-ternary system Nd3(Fe1-xCox)29-yTiy (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and y = 1:5) and in the corresponding compositions 2:17 and 1:12 related phases. The occurrence of field induced transitions, which were identified as firstorder magnetisation process, was observed in all the phases. In most of the samples the transitions still persist at room temperature. It has been found that the definition of easy and hard directions in the 3:29 phase results from the combined anisotropy contributions of the 1:12 and 2:17 constituent blocks. The additivity of the anisotropy contributions is accomplished only qualitatively.