Magnetic after-effect measurements were performed on nitrided and carburized samples at temperatures ranging from 140 to 480K. The nitrided and carburized samples (Fe17Sm2N1.2, Fe17Sm2C2.6) exhibited relaxation maxima at 285 and 300K, respectively. These were absent from the pure compound. The relaxation maxima were therefore attributed to jumps of interstitially dissolved N or C atoms. Numerical evaluation yielded an activation enthalpy of 0.84eV and a pre-exponential factor of 3 x 10-15s for the short-range diffusion of N atoms. The corresponding values for C diffusion were 0.91eV and 10-15s.

Measurement of N and C Diffusion in Sm2Fe17 by Magnetic Relaxation. N.Mommer, M.Kubis, M.Hirscher, M.Gerlach, J.Van Lier, K.H.Muller, H.Kronmuller: Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 1998, 279[2], 113-6