Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of rapidly quenched Gd-Co-Fe-Al alloys

► Fe-containing compositions consist of two magnetic phases. ► These have impact on magnetic properties, but are not detectable by XRD. ► Transition metals couple antiferromagnetically with Gd moments in second phase, but not in main phase. ► Magnetic entropy change vs. temperature curve is considerably broadened for high Fe and low Gd contents.