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Tunable magnetic regenerator alloys with a giant magnetocaloric effect for magnetic refrigeration from {bold {approximately}}20 to {bold {approximately}}290K

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.119206· OSTI ID:529989
;  [1]
  1. Ames Laboratory and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3020 (United States)

A giant magnetocaloric effect ({Delta}S{sub mag}) has been discovered in the Gd{sub 5}(Si{sub x}Ge{sub 1{minus}x}){sub 4} pseudobinary alloys, where x{le}0.5. For the temperature range between {approximately}50 and {approximately}280K it exceeds the reversible (with respect to alternating magnetic field) {Delta}S{sub mag} for any known magnetic refrigerant material at the corresponding Curie temperature by a factor of 2{endash}10. The two most striking features of this alloy system are: (1) the first order phase transformation, which brings about the large {Delta}S{sub mag} in Gd{sub 5}(Si{sub x}Ge{sub 1{minus}x}){sub 4}, is reversible with respect to alternating magnetic field, i.e., the giant magnetocaloric effect can be utilized in an active magnetic regenerator magnetic refrigerator; and (2) the ordering temperature is tunable from {approximately}30 to {approximately}276K by adjusting the Si:Ge ratio without losing the giant magnetic entropy change. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

Research Organization:
Ames National Laboratory
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
529989
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 70; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English