MAGNETIC PROPERTIES AND MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT OF Fe90-xPrxZr10 RAPIDLY QUENCHED ALLOYS

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of studying magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of Fe90-xPrxZr10 (x = 1, 2 and 3) rapidly quenched alloys. The alloy ribbons with thickness of about 15 µm were prepared by melt-spinning method on a single roller system. X-ray diffraction patterns of the ribbons manifest their almost amorphous structure. Thermomagnetization measurements show that the Curie temperature of the alloys can be controlled to be near room temperature by changing concentration of Pr (x). When the concentration of Pr is increased, saturation magnetization of the alloys increased from 48 emu/g (with x = 1) to 66.8 emu/g (with x = 2). All the ribbons reveal soft magnetic behavior with low coercive force (Hc 42 Oe). The magnetic entropy change of the alloys, |∆Sm|max 0.9 J.kg-1K-1 in magnetic field change DH = 12 kOe, shows large magnetocaloric effect at phase transition temperature. On the other hand, the working temperature range is quite large (dFWHM ~ 70 K) revealing an application potential in magnetic refrigeration technology of these alloys