Magnetocaloric effects in Fe4MnSi3Bxr interstitial compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Fe₄MnSi₃B_x compounds with x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 have been investigated. X-ray diffraction study shows that all these compounds investigated crystallize in the Mn₅Si₃-type structure with space group P6₃/mcm. Boron insertion in the host ternary silicide Fe₄MnSi₃ does not change the crystal symmetry, only leads to an increase of the lattice parameters, indicating the B atoms entered the interstitial sites. With increasing B content, the Curie temperature shifts to higher temperatures. The maximal magnetic-entropy changes of the Fe₄MnSi₃B_x compounds with x=0, 0.10 and 0.20 are about 1.8 J/(kg·K), 1.8~J/(kg·K) and 1.6~J/(kg·K), respectively, for a field change from 0 to 1.5 T.     

Magnetocaloric effects in Fe_4MnSi_3B_x interstitial compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Fe4MnSi3Bx compounds with x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 have been investigated. X-ray diffraction study shows that all these compounds investigated crystallize in the Mn5Si3-type structure with space group P63/mcm. Boron insertion in the host ternary silicide Fe4MnSi3 does not change the crystal symmetry, only leads to an increase of the lattice parameters, indicating the B atoms entered the interstitial sites. With increasing B content, the Curie tem...     

The influence of gallium on the magnetocaloric properties of Gd5Si2Ge2

Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ was alloyed with varying amounts of Ga to study its influence on the giant magnetocaloric effect. Investigations on Gd₅(Si_2−xGe_2−x)Ga_2x with 2x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.13 were carried out using X-ray powder diffraction, temperature and magnetic field dependent magnetization measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry. We observe that as the Ga content increases, the temperature stability range of the monoclinic phase narrows, and the orthorhombic structure gains stability. This is expected to be related to the decrease in the (Si/Ge)(Si/Ge) bond distance in the monoclinic phase. The maximum entropy change for the parent compound at 270 K was found to be 9.8 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ in an applied field of 5 T. For 2x = 0.03, this value reduces to 8.5 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, and the temperature corresponding to the maximum entropy change shifts marginally to 278 K. For other 2x values, the maximum entropy change further decreases.     

Changes in the phase structure and magnetic characteristics of Gd5Si2Ge2 when alloyed with Mn

Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ parent compounds were alloyed with Mn in order to understand the underlying relation between the structural phases and the magnetic behavior of the pseudo ternary compounds formed. The alloying mechanism in Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ causes simultaneous substitution of the nonmagnetic Si and Ge atoms from the (Si + Ge) sublattice in equal amounts. No subsequent heat treatment was made on alloyed compounds. X-ray powder diffraction, magnetization versus temperature and isothermal magnetization measurements were carried out. X- ray diffraction patterns were used to qualitatively determine the existence of different structural phases in the alloys. It was observed that the starting, as-melted alloy with z = 0 has Gd₅Si₄-type orthorhombic structure at room temperature with traces of 1:1 stoichiometry phase which transforms totally to a Gd₅Si₂Ge₂-type monoclinic phase when heat treated. Similarly, increase in the Mn content leads to an increase in the monoclinic phase content of the originally orthorhombic compounds. Curie temperatures were determined from M(T) measurements and the magnetocaloric characterization was made using M(H) measurements by plotting the magnetic entropy change values against temperature. No giant magnetocaloric effect was observed for non heat treated samples.     

Magnetocaloric effect in HoMn2Si2 compound with multiple magnetic phase transitions

The structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the polycrystalline compound HoMn₂Si₂ have been studied. The temperature variation of magnetization and heat capacity show that below room temperature the compound under goes multiple magnetic transitions, at about 80, 15 and 3.5 K respectively. Moreover, the presence of the interesting thermomagnetic irreversibility in HoMn₂Si₂ is detected in the magnetization versus temperature plot, which can be ascribed to the narrow domain wall pinning effect. A broad and asymmetric peak is observed for the MCE response which might suggest the underlying first-order nature of the transition and/or the spin fluctuations of the Mn subsystem. The density of states N(E_F) at the Fermi level and the Debye temperature have been determined and analyzed. Large magnetocaloric effect (ΔS_M = −9 J/kg-K for a field change of 5 T around 9 K) suggest that this material is suitable for the low temperature magnetic refrigeration.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the Ce2Fe17−xMnx helical magnets

The Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x (x = 0-2) compounds demonstrate a complex temperature dependence of the magnetocaloric effect MCE, which is inverse in a narrow temperature interval just below Néel temperature T_N and normal at higher or lower temperatures. The normal MCE exhibits two peaks in the vicinity of temperatures of ferromagnetic ordering Θ_T and T_N for compositions x = 0-0.35, 1.3-2 or one peak near T_N for antiferromagnets with x = 0.5-1. The maximal change of the peak entropy −S_M is about 3 J/kg K in a field of 5 T for the compounds with x = 0-0.5 at T ∼230 K close to T_N. The drastic decrease of the MCE, by half, in the Ce₂Fe_17−xMn_x system is traceable to a decrease of the spontaneous magnetization and the helical type of magnetic states in the compounds.     

Magnetocaloric effect in lanthanide materials

Some recent data on the magnetocaloric effect in lanthanide materials are reviewed. It is shown that the variation of interaction exchange energy, taking place under the effect of a magnetic field in the vicinity of the phase transformation, provides a significant contribution to the change of magnetic entropy. New theoretical relations for the magnetocaloric effect at the phase transition point of magnetic materials are discussed. Physical mechanisms of heat generation in magnetic materials under adiabatic conditions are analyzed.     

烧结助剂Y2O3和Pr6O11对Al2O3陶瓷相对密度和热导率的影响

采用高分子网络法制备混合纳米粉体,研究稀土氧化物Y2O3和Pr6O11加入量对Al2O3陶瓷相对密度和热导率的影响。采用阿基米德方法测定样品的体积密度,利用激光脉冲法测量试样的热扩散率并计算得出热导率。结果表明:两种添加剂都可以降低Al2O3陶瓷的烧结温度,提高Al2O3陶瓷的热导率,其中Y2O3的促进作用较强;当保温时间相同、烧结温度为1 500~1 650℃时,Al2O3陶瓷的相对密度和热导率都随烧结温度的升高而增大;当烧结温度相同、保温时间为30~120 min时,Al2O3陶瓷的相对密度和热导率也随保温时间的延长而增大。     

Giant magnetocaloric effect in Tb3Rh

Tb₃Rh exhibits a giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) around ordering temperature of 88 K. The maximum magnetic entropy change ΔS_m obtained at 2 T, 3 T, 5 T and 7 T amounts −11.6 J/(K kg), −14 J/(K kg), −17.9 J/(K kg) and −21 J/(K kg) respectively. The origin of an enhanced MCE is related to a first-order magnetic transition. Magnetic frustration and short range correlation are very important in understanding the properties of Tb₃Rh.     

Large magnetic entropy change near room temperature in La0.7(Ca0.27Ag0.03)MnO3 perovskite

In this paper, the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of La_0.7(Ca_1−xAg_x)_0.3MnO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.7, and 1) powder samples are reported. Our polycrystalline compounds were synthesized using the solid state reaction method at high temperature. Magnetization measurements versus temperature showed that all our samples exhibited a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition with decreasing temperature. The Curie temperature, T_C, has been found to increase from ∼250 K for x = 0-270 K for x = 1. Ag doping weakens the first order phase transition, and at higher Ag doping, the phase transition is of second order. For the La_0.7(Ca_0.27Ag_0.03)MnO₃ composition, the maxima of the magnetic entropy changes from the applied magnetic field (ΔS_M) at 2 and 5 T are about 4.5 and 7.75 J/kg K, respectively, at the Curie temperature of ∼263 K. The relative cooling power (RCP) values without hysteresis loss are about 102 and 271 J/kg for the applied fields of 2 and 5 T, respectively. Due to the large ΔS_M, large RCP, and high Curie temperature, La_0.7(Ca_0.27Ag_0.03)MnO₃ is promising for application in potential magnetic refrigeration near room temperature.     

High-temperature phase transition and magnetic property of LaFe11.6Si1.4 compound

The LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 compounds are prepared by arc-melting and then annealed at different high temperatures from 1323 K(5 h) to 1623 K(2 h). The powder X-ray diffraction and metallographic microscopy show that 1423 K and 1523 K are two curial temperatures, at which large amount of 1:13 phase begins to form and the most amount of 1:13 phase is obtained, respectively. With annealing temperature increasing to 1573 K and 1623 K, a new phase of La₅Si₃ is detected in LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 compound. According to the DSC curve of as-cast LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 compound and the X-ray patterns of annealed LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 compounds, the high-temperature phase transition process is analyzed. For studying the influence of different high-temperature and short-time annealing on the Curie temperature, thermal and magnetic hysteresis, magnetocaloric effect of LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 compound annealed at different temperatures are also investigated.     

Glass formation ability, structure and magnetocaloric effect of a heavy rare-earth bulk metallic glassy Gd55Co20Fe5Al20 alloy

The structure and magnetic entropy changes in melt-spun and annealed LaFe_11.8−xCo_xSi_1.2 (x = 0, 0.4 and 0.8) ribbons have been investigated. It is found that the value of T_c can be increased continuously up to 290 K for x = 0.8 and the phase transition, at T_c from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic, is changed from first- to second-order due to Co substitution. Large values of the magnetic entropy change are 31 and 13.5 J/kg K in the magnetic field change from 0 to 5 T at 201 K for the LaFe_11.8Si_1.2 and at 290 K for the LaFe₁₁Co_0.8Si_1.2 ribbons, respectively. The magnetic entropy change in the LaFe₁₁Co_0.8Si_1.2 ribbons is higher than that reported in the bulk counterpart and that of conventional MCE materials, such as pure Gd. The enhanced magnetic entropy change of ribbons compared to bulk counterpart is attributed to a more uniform microstructure and element distribution resulting from the high cooling rate by melt-spinning.     

La_(0.6)Pr_(0.4)Fe_(11.4)Si_(1.6)B_(0.2)合金及其氢化物磁热性能研究

采用工业纯原料感应熔炼制备出公斤级La_(0.6)Pr_(0.4)Fe_(11.4)Si_(1.6)B_(0.2)合金,经退火后通过吸氢处理提高其居里温度到室温附近。研究了在1373~1473 K温度下经不同时间和温度退火对合金微观组织结构的影响。实验发现在1473 K经30 h退火样品的居里温度为202 K,在0~1.5 T变化磁场下的最大磁熵变达8.1~8.6 J/kg·K。在0.13 MPa氢气压力下,经553 K吸氢5 h氢化处理合金的居里温度为320 K,最大磁熵变达7.7~8.0 J/kg·K。     

Magnetic properties and magnetic structure of the Mn5Si3-type Tb5Si3 compound

Neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements have been performed on the Tb₅Si₃ compound (hexagonal Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) to understand its magnetic structure and magnetic properties. The temperature-dependent neutron diffraction results prove that this intermetallic phase shows a complex flat spiral magnetic ordering, presenting three subsequent changes in magnetization at on cooling. However, the magnetization data depict two transitions at 72 K (T_N1) and 55 K (T_N2). The extended temperature range between and over which the neutron diffraction patterns slowly evolve might correspond to the high-temperature antiferromagnetic transition at T_N1 and low-temperature antiferromagnetic transition at T_N2 of the magnetic data. Between Tb₅Si₃ shows a flat spiral antiferromagnetic ordering with a propagation vector K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4]; then, between the flat spiral type ordering is conserved, but by two coexisting propagation vectors K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4] and K₂ = [0,0, ±0.4644(3)]. The terbium magnetic moments arrange in the XY(ab) plane of the unit cell. Below the magnetic component with K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4] vanishes and magnetic structure of Tb₅Si₃ is a flat spiral with K₂ = [0,0, ±0.4644(3)], only. Low field magnetization measurements confirm the occurrence of complex, multiple magnetic transitions. The field dependence of the magnetization indicates a metamagnetic transition at a critical field of 3 T.