Study on Magnetocaloric Effects of Gd1-xVx Alloys

Abstract:

The magnetic behavior of Gd1-xVx alloys (x=0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09) prepared by vacuum arc melting was analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all Gd1-xVx alloys retain crystal hexagonal structure of pure Gd. The ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition of all alloys is the second order type. The Curie temperatures of these alloys are lower than that of Gd by 1~2 K and change a little with x increasing. It is noted that these alloys have large values of magnetic entropy change ΔSM, adiabatic temperatures change ΔTad and broader peak in the ΔSM-T plot in the low magnetic fields. All the alloys have remarkably better relative cooling power than pure Gd.

Key words:Gd1-xVx alloy; magnetic refrigeration; magnetocaloric effect; magnetic entropy change; adiabatic temperatures change