The magnetocaloric effect in (Gd0.74Tb0.26)5(SixGe1−x)4 alloys

Abstract The magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effect of the alloys of Gd 0.74 Tb 0.26 and (Gd 0.74 Tb 0.26 ) 5 (Si x Ge 1− x ) 4 ( x  = 0.43, 0.50, 0.505) have been investigated by magnetization measurement. Experimental results show that partial substitution of the Gd by Tb in Gd 5 (Si x Ge 1− x ) 4 system keeps the first order magnetic transition. Although the values of transition temperature decrease, the as-cast (Gd 0.74 Tb 0.26 ) 5 (Si 0.43 Ge 0.57 ) 4 and annealed (Gd 0.74 Tb 0.26 ) 5 (Si 0.50 Ge 0.50 ) 4 alloys display large magnetic entropy change up to 18.89 J kg − 1 K − 1 and 13.79 J kg − 1 K − 1 near their transition temperatures in the low magnetic field change of 0–2.0 T, respectively.