Untypical Temperature Dependence of the Magnetocaloric Effect in the Dy(Co1-xFex)2 (x = 0.10; 0.15) Compounds

Abstract

A study of crystalline structure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Dy(Co1-хFeх)2 (х = 0.10, 0.15) intermetallic compounds was undertaken. Phase composition was controlled by X-ray diffraction analysis. Magnetic properties were measured with a help of SQUID magnetometer in magnetic fields up to 7 Т in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 400 K. Magnetic transition temperatures from paramagnetic to magnetically ordered state were inferred as 288 K and 350 K, respectively. It is shown that at an increase of iron concentration and/or magnetic field intensity, a considerable maximum broadenings on a temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change is observed. The calculated value of the relative cooling power (RCP) of Dy(Co0.90Fe0.10)2, in a magnetic field of 1.7 T is equal to 152 J/kg that is close to that for Gd metal with RCP = 181 J/kg at μ0Н = 2 T.