The effect of refractory (Zr, Hf) elements on the magnetocaloric property of Mn-based alloys

Abstract This study was investigated the effect of additional elements on the magnetocaloric property in MnFeMPGe (M = Zr, Hf) alloys. The magnetocaloric property of alloys depending on the decrease of the additional element was enhanced about 7.52J/kgK and 94.84J/kg at 242 K in the Mn 1.2 Fe 0.79 Zr 0.01 P 0.6 Ge 0.4 alloy. We were able to deduce that the magnetocaloric property was affected by the strong magneto-crystalline anisotropy resulting from high volume % of main phase (≥50%). The strong magneto-crystalline anisotropy was induced by the homogeneous dendritic structures and distinct main peak with 11 2 ¯ 0 plane in Mn 1.2 Fe 0.8−x (Zr,Hf) x P 0.6 Ge 0.4 (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1) alloys.