Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of SmxGd1−xMn2Si2

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd1−xSmxMn2Si2 compounds with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 have been studied to determine their suitability as magnetic refrigerant materials. The rare earth ordering temperatures are found to decrease from 60 K for x = 0 to 37 K for x = 1. The temperature variations of magnetization under ‘field-cooled’ and ‘zero-field-cooled’ conditions are found to differ slightly, indicating a small thermomagnetic irreversibility. Magnetocaloric effect is calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change (ΔSM) using the magnetization isotherms. The maximum values of ΔSM are found to be 5.9 J kg−1 K−1 in GdMn2Si2 and 3.4 J kg−1 K−1 in SmMn2Si2.