Magnetocaloric effect of Gd(FexAl1-x)2 compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of Gd(FexAl1-x)(2) compounds with Laves-phase structure have been investigated. The temperature dependence of the magnetization of these compounds was measured to determine their Curie temperatures, while the change of the magnetic entropy was calculated from magnetization curves at different temperatures. Fe substitution for Al at first decreases the Curie temperature, and increases the change of the magnetic entropy. The largest value for the magnetic entropy vertical bar Delta S-M vertical bar = 8.4J/kg/K, is achieved for Gd(Fe0.15Al0.85)(2), which has the lowest Curie temperature. The magnetic entropy decreases with further increase of the Fe content, accompanied by an increase of the Curie temperature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.