Evidence for the stable existence of the $Fe2Nd$ phase in the $Fe–Nd$ system

We did directional solidification experiments on $Fe20Nd80$ alloys at several low cooling rates in order to observe the solidification sequence, displayed along the length of the sample. We also took measurements of the transition temperatures around the eutectic temperature using a Calvet type calorimeter. Our results show that the formation of the eutectic $L↔(Nd)+Fe17Nd2$ occurs first, and is followed by the eutectic $L↔(Nd)+Fe2Nd.$ The calorimetric measurements give the temperature of the first eutectic to be 688 °C, the temperature of the peritectic formation of the phase $Fe2Nd$ to be 682 °C and the temperature of its eutectoid decomposition as 659 °C. Thermomagnetic measurements give the Curie temperature of the $Fe2Nd$ phase as 250 °C. A new phase diagram for this system is proposed.