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technical paper
Tailoring mechanical properties and magnetocaloric effect in LaFe11.8Si1.2 zXzHy (X = Al, Ga, In)
The ability of certain magnetic materials to change their entropy and/or temperature with the application and removal of a magnetic field (magnetocaloric effect, MCE) is a physical phenomenon that could lead to the realization of clean, energy-efficient heat pumping systems. We report a series of LaFe11.8Si1.1X0.1 compounds, where X = Al, Ga, and In, added in small concentrations, substantially reduce brittleness intrinsic to unsubstituted La(Fe1-xSix)13, while preserving or enhancing their giant MCEs 1. Room temperature powder X-ray diffraction confirms formation of LaFe11.8Si1.1X0.1 adopting the NaZn13-type structure as major phases, with ~10 to 15% of αFe impurity. Surprisingly, relatively large amounts of αFe do not deteriorate the magnetic field-induced entropy change (ΔS), yet the resultant alloys have much improved mechanical stability. The corresponding maximum ΔS are -18, -17, and -13 J kg-1 K-1 for X = In, Al, and Ga, respectively, in ΔH = 2 T in the vicinities of their respective Curie temperatures. The Curie temperatures of LaFe11.8Si1.1X0.1 materials can be increased to room temperature and above by hydrogenation, preserving the giant MCE. For example, a fully hydrogenated LaFe11.8Si1.1In0.1H2.3 exhibits maximum ΔS close to -16 J kg-1 K-1 at T~344 K and ΔH =2 T.
This work was supported by the Division of Materials Science and Engineering of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the U.S. DOE. Ames Laboratory is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Iowa State University under Contract No. DE-AC02-07CH11358. AKP acknowledges the finanacial support from faculty startup fund from the Dean’s Office, School of Arts and Sciences, SUNY Buffalo State.