SPIN-GLASS-LIKE BEHAVIOR IN U2TSI3 (T-EQUIVALENT-TO-FE, CO, NI OR CU) INTERMETALLICS WITH DISORDERED ALB2-TYPE AND ALPHA-THSI2-TYPE STRUCTURES

A new series of ternary uranium intermetallics U2TSi3 (T=Fe, Co, Ni or Cu) has been discovered. All these phases crystallize in the hexagonal AlB2-type structure, except for U2CuSi3 which is of the tetragonal alpha-ThSi2 type. The magnetic properties of the new compounds were investigated by means of DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements. The results show all the main characteristics of a re-entrant spin-glass behaviour at low temperatures in all the ternaries studied. Owing to some structural properties of these compounds they could be classified as non-magnetic atom disorder spin glasses.