Two-steps process in the first-order transformation of giant magnetocaloric materials

The most promising materials for applications in magnetic refrigeration exhibit a large entropy change at a first-order ferromagnetic transition. Often, it has been observed that the transformation proceeds via two bursts surrounding a regime of slow transformation. Within a simplified framework, the present article reports on a thermodynamic model able to account for this two-steps response. This model is con -fronted to magnetic and calorimetric data recorded in the magnetocaloric compound LaFe11.4Si1.31Co0.29. (C) 2022 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This article presents a thermodynamic model to explain the two-step response of magnetic refrigeration materials during transformation. The accuracy of the model is validated by comparing it with experimental data.