Properties of composites with La(Fe, Si)13 hydrides and sodium silicate

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 476; pp. 608 - 612
• Main Authors: Pan, W.J., Zhang, H.G., Xu, L., Imam, H., Song, B.T., Yue, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.04.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bonding strength; Composite materials; Compressive strength; Epoxy resins; Hydrides; La-Fe-Si-H composites; Magnetocaloric effect; Price increases; Refrigeration; Resin bonded; Silica; Silicon; Sodium; Sodium silicate; Sodium silicates; Solidification; Thermal conductivity; Sodium silicate; Magnetocaloric effect; La-Fe-Si-H composites
• ISSN: 0304-8853; 1873-4766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2019.01.011

•We proposed here a new method to make bulk composites of La-Fe-Si hydrides using sodium silicate.•This method only needs a relatively low solidification temperature and can create a homogenous microstructure.•The bulk composites possess good mechanical, thermal and magnetocaloric properties. We adopted sodium silicate to prepare composites of La(Fe, Si)13 hydrides in this work. A homogenous and continuous matrix of sodium silicate was formed at a relatively low solidification temperature. No counter diffusion between the matrix and the grains of La(Fe, Si)13 hydrides was observed. The magnetocaloric effect of pure La(Fe, Si)13 hydrides is largely preserved in the composites, showing a high tolerance to sodium silicate. These composites possess high thermal conductivity and decent compressive strength compared with the epoxy resin bonded samples. These results suggest that sodium silicate is a promising binder material for producing bulk La(Fe, Si)13 hydrides for their application in magnetic refrigeration.