A magnetic, neutron diffraction, and Mossbauer spectral study of the Nd2Fe17-xAlx solid solutions

Neutron diffraction, magnetization and Mossbauer spectroscopic studies of the magnetic properties of Nd(2)Fe(17-x)Al(x) solid solutions indicate that knowledge of the site occupancies of aluminium is essential for the proper characterization of the effect of exchange pathways in solid solutions. The aluminium atoms select 18f and 6c sites at high aluminium concentrations, or the 18h site after removal from 9d site. Increase in aluminium levels reduces the weighted average decremental field while neighboring shell enhances the wavelength of Friedel oscillations.