Thermal stability, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd55Co35M10 (M = Si, Zr and Nb) melt-spun ribbons

Abstract The thermal stability, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd 55 Co 35 M 10 (M = Si, Zr and Nb) melts-pun ribbons were studied. The relatively high reduced glass transition temperature ( T x1 / T m  > 0.60) and low melting point ( T m ) resulted in excellent glass forming ability (GFA). The Curie temperatures ( T C ) of melt-spun amorphous ribbons Gd 55 Co 35 M 10 for M = Si, Zr and Nb were 166, 148 and 173 K, respectively. For a magnetic field change of 2 T, the values of maximum magnetic entropy change (−Δ S M ) max for Gd 55 Co 35 Si 10 , Gd 55 Co 35 Zr 10 and Gd 55 Co 35 Nb 10 were found to be 2.86, 4.28 and 4.05 J kg −1 K −1 , while the refrigeration capacity (RC) values were 154, 274 and 174 J kg –1 , respectively. The RC FWHM values of amorphous alloys Gd 55 Co 35 M 10 (M = Si, Zr and Nb) are comparable to or larger than that of LaFe 11.6 Si 1.4 crystalline alloy. Large values of (−Δ S M ) max and RC along with good thermal stability make Gd 55 Co 35 M 10 (M = Si, Zr and Nb) amorphous alloys be potential materials for magnetic cooling operating in a wide temperature range from 150 to 175 K, e.g., as part of a gas liquefaction process.