Magnetocaloric effect of Pr^sub 2^Fe^sub 17-x^Mn^sub x^ alloys

• Published in: Rare metals Vol. 33; no. 5; p. 552
• Main Authors: Zhong, Xi-chun, Liu, Zhong-wu, Zeng, De-chang, Gschneidner Jr, Karl A, Pecharsky, Vitalij K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2014
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-013-0134-x

Polycrystalline Pr^sub 2^Fe^sub 17-x^Mn^sub x^ (x = 0, 1, and 2) alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), heat capacity, ac susceptibility, and isothermal magnetization measurements. All the alloys adopt the rhombohedral TH2Zn^sub 17^-type structure. The Curie temperature increases from 283 K at x = 0 to 294 K at x = 1, and then decreases to 285 K at x = 2. The magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature is a typical second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition. For an applied field change from 0 to 5 T, the maximum -ΔS ^sub M^ for Pr^sub 2^Fe^sub 17-x^Mn^sub x^ alloys with x = 0, 1, and 2 are 5.66, 5.07, and 4.31 J·kg^sup -1^·K^sup -1^, respectively. The refrigerant capacity (RC) values range from 458 to 364 J·kg ^sup -1^, which is about 70 %-89 % that of Gd. The large, near room temperature [Delta]S ^sub M^ and RC values, chemical stability, and a high performance-to-cost ratio make Pr^sub 2^Fe^sub 17-x^Mn^sub x^ alloys be selectable materials for room temperature magnetic refrigeration applications.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]