Magnetic phase transition and magnetic entropy change in melt-spun La1-xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 ribbons

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 392; no. 1-2; pp. 20 - 23
• Main Authors: Zhu, Yaomin, Xie, Kun, Song, Xiaoping, Sun, Zhanbo, Lv, Weipeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier 19.04.2005
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Physics; Magnetic entropy change; Annealing; Curie point; Magnetization; Intermetallic compounds; Phase transformations; Magnetic field effects; Field-induced phase transition; Melt spinning; Entropy; Low field; Magnetic transitions; Melt-spun; Magnetic refrigerators; 75.10.LP; High field; 75.30.Sg NaZn13-type intermetallic compounds; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0925-8388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2004.09.021

The magnetic phase transition and magnetic entropy change |Delta-S(sub m)| of melt-spun La1-xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5) ribbons were investigated by measuring the magnetization as a function of temperature. The crystal structure of all annealed ribbons is NaZn13-type. The Curie temperature TC of the ribbons increased slightly with the increase of x. A large low-field |Delta-S(sub m)| is observed in the compounds with x = 0 and 0.3, which resulted from a field-induced first-order magnetic phase transition (FOT). For the compound with x = 0.5, |Delta-S(sub m)| reduced sharply and FOT disappeared at the same time. Enhancement of TC and |Delta-S(sub m)| by Nd substitution suggests that La1-xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 (x = 0, 0.3) ribbons have great potential for applications as magnetic refrigerants working in low magnetic fields.