Mössbauer spectrometric study of Sm 2 Fe 17 N x ( x =0–8)

Ternary rare-earth-iron-nitrogen compounds of Sm2Fe17Nx with x ranging from 0 up to 8, which have a rhombohedral structure of Th2Zn17 and a high Curie temperature up to 475–480°C depending on the degree of nitrogenation, were prepared by the nitrogenation of arc-melted Sm2Fe17 in mixed ammonia and hydrogen gas atmospheres of various ratios, and Mössbauer spectra of these compounds were observed at room temperature in order to analyse the physicochemical state of the nitrogenated products. The obtained data were analysed by focusing main attention on the effect of degree of nitrogenation on the variation of spectral profiles. Paramagnetic peaks due to an amorphous compound became prevalent as x became higher than ~ 2.3.