Regulation of Magnetocaloric Effect in Ni40Co10Mn40Sn10 Alloys by Using a Homemade Uniaxial Strain Pressure Cell

Abstract

In this study, a homemade uniaxial strain pressure cell was designed to be directly used in the standard magnetometers whereby the magnetic properties of samples subjected to a uniaxial strain and magnetic field were characterized. Its feasibility has been demonstrated by the uniaxial strain control of the phase transition and magnetocaloric effect in Ni40Co10Mn40Sn10 (NCMS) alloys. With the assistance of a uniaxial strain of ~0.5%, the cooling temperature span of NCMS alloys is broadened by 2 K, and the refrigeration capacity under a 3 T magnetic field change increases from 246 to 277 J/kg. This research provides not only direct experimental assistance for the tuning of phase transition by the uniaxial strain but also possibilities for studying the coupled caloric effect in first-order phase transition materials under a combined uniaxial strain and magnetic field by the thermodynamic analysis.