Structure, microstructure and magnetocaloric effect were investigated in Gd1-xGax (0.45 ≤ x ≤ 0.55) alloys. Phase identification and compositional analysis revealed that all these alloys consist of orthorhombic GdGa major… Click to show full abstract
Structure, microstructure and magnetocaloric effect were investigated in Gd1-xGax (0.45 ≤ x ≤ 0.55) alloys. Phase identification and compositional analysis revealed that all these alloys consist of orthorhombic GdGa major phase with small fraction of tetragonal Gd3Ga2 and hexagonal GdGa2 secondary phases for Ga-lean and Ga-rich compositions respectively. The magnetic transition temperatures (TC) of the alloys were determined from AC susceptibility curves and it was found to be in the range of 181–186 K. Among these alloys, a maximum values of magnetic entropy change (ΔSM)max of 5.1 J kg−1-K, adiabatic temperature change (ΔTmax) of 4.6 K and refrigerant capacity (RC) of 644 J kg−1 were obtained in the x = 0.50 alloy.
               
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