Magnetocaloric properties and solid solution strengthening of Gd-C and Gd-Dy-C alloys

In this paper, the near room temperature magnetic refrigerating solid solution alloys, Gd1−x-Cx (x ≤ 5 at.%) and Gd0.98−xDyxC0.02 (x ≤ 20 at.%), were investigated together with a consideration of mechanical properties required by the container of the refrigerant material in a magnetic refrigerator. The results show that the micro-hardness of pure gadolinium metal can be much improved by adding carbon. The Curie temperature and adiabatic temperature changes of the Gd1−xCx (x < 0.05) alloys change little compared with pure gadolinium. The Curie temperature of Gd0.98−xDyxC0.02 alloys can be tuned by adding dysprosium and their adiabatic temperature changes do not change much in a magnetic field change of 0-1 T.