The detection of a strong influence of composition variations on low-temperature magnetic ordering in nearly stoichiometric Fe–V–Al alloys

The magnetic state of Fe–V–Al alloys with nearly stoichiometric (Fe2VAl) compositions varying with respect both to aluminum and transition elements was studied. The effect of strong qualitative change in the magnetic properties induced by small variations of the composition was observed for the first time and analyzed. The key result is the detection of ferromagnetic ordering with a relatively high (~50 K) Curie temperature in an alloy with V atoms substituted in the lattice by Al atoms and the Fe content corresponding to the stoichiometric composition.