Magnetocaloric effect of Pr2Fe17-x Mn (x) alloys

作者：Zhong Xi Chun^*; Liu Zhong Wu; Zeng De Chang; Gschneidner Karl A Jr; Pecharsky Vitalij K

来源：Rare Metals, 2014, 33(5): 552-555.

DOI：10.1007/s12598-013-0134-x

• Pr2Fe17-xMnx alloys
• Magnetocaloric effect
• Magnetic entropy change

Polycrystalline Pr2Fe17-x Mn (x) (x = 0, 1, and 2) alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), heat capacity, ac susceptibility, and isothermal magnetization measurements. All the alloys adopt the rhombohedral Th2Zn17-type structure. The Curie temperature increases from 283 K at x = 0 to 294 K at x = 1, and then decreases to 285 K at x = 2. The magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature is a typical second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition. For an applied field change from 0 to 5 T, the maximum -Delta S (M) for Pr2Fe17-x Mn (x) alloys with x = 0, 1, and 2 are 5.66, 5.07, and 4.31 J center dot kg(-1)center dot K-1, respectively. The refrigerant capacity (RC) values range from 458 to 364 J center dot kg (-1), which is about 70 %-89 % that of Gd. The large, near room temperature Delta S (M) and RC values, chemical stability, and a high performance-to-cost ratio make Pr2Fe17-x Mn (x) alloys be selectable materials for room temperature magnetic refrigeration applications.