Magnetic properties of a high energy ball-milled amorphous Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4 alloy

Amorphous Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4 has been obtained with the help of a high-energy ball milling technique. XRD and DSC measurements confirm the amorphous nature of the milled alloy. The separation of FC and ZFC curves below the ferromagnetic transition temperature indicates a spin glass-like state in the amorphous alloy. Thermal hysteresis has been significantly reduced in the high energy ball-milled alloy compared with that of a crystalline one. For the amorphous Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4, magnetic phase transition takes place in a wide temperature span and the RC value reaches around 495 J kg−1.