Multifunctional properties related to magnetostructural transitions in ternary and quaternary Heusler alloys

In this report, the results of a study on the effects of compositional variations induced by the small changes in concentrations of the parent components and/or by the substitution of Ni, Mn, or In by an extra element Z, on the phase transitions, and phenomena related to the magnetostructural transitions in off-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-In based Heusler alloys are summarized. The crystal structures, phase transitions temperatures, and magnetic and magnetocaloric properties were analyzed for representative samples of the following systems (all near 15 at% indium concentration): Ni-Mn-In, Ni-Mn-In-Si, Ni-Mn-In-B, Ni-Mn-In-Cu, Ni-Mn-In-Cu-B, Ni-Mn-In-Fe, Ni-Mn-In-Ag, and Ni-Mn-In-Al. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.