  Crystal structure, thermal and magnetic properties were systematically
studied in the Y$_{1-x}$Pr$_x$CrO$_3$ with $0 \leq x \leq 0.3$ compositions.
Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements show an increase of the
antiferromagnetic transition temperature ($T_N$) as Pr is substituted in the Y
sites and notable magnetic features are observed below $T_N$. Strong coupling
between magnetic and crystalline parameters is observed in a small range of Pr
compositions. A small perturbation in the lattice parameters by Pr ion is
sufficient to induce a spin reorientation transition followed by magnetization
reversal, to finally induce exchange bias effect. The spin reorientation
temperature ($T_{SR}$) is increased from 35 K to 149 K for $0.025 \leq x \leq
0.1$ compositions. It is found that the Cr spins sublattice rotates
continuously from $T_{SR}$ to a new spin configuration a lower temperature. In
addition, magnetization reversal is observed at $T^* \sim 35$ K for x= 0.05 up
to $T^* \sim 63$ K for x = 0.20 composition. The $M-H$ curves show negative
exchange bias effect induced by Pr ions, which are observed below of 100 K and
being more intense at 5 K. At 10 K, the magnetic contribution of the specific
heat, as well as the ZFC magnetization, show the rise of a peak with increasing
Pr content. The magnetic anomaly could be associated with the freezing of the
Pr magnetic moment randomly distributed at the 4c crystallographic site. A
clear correspondence between spin reorientation, magnetization reversal and
exchange bias anisotropy with the tilting and octahedral distortion is also
discussed.
