Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy of Y_<2+x>(Co_<1-y>Fe_y)_<17-2x> Intermetallic Compounds

The pseudobinary solid solutions of Y_(Co_Fe_y)_ intermetallic compounds with the hexagonal Th_2Ni_ type structure have been investigated in relation to their magnetocrystalline anisotropy. It was found from X-ray diffraction measurements on magnetically oriented powder samples that the sign of the anisotropy constant of the compounds changes at certain values of x and y. It is noted that in the compounds with small Fe content (y≈0) their stoichiometric character (x) plays an important role in determining the sign of the anisotropy constant