Influence of Mn incorporation for Ni on the magnetocaloric properties of rapidly solidified off-stoichiometric NiMnGa ribbons

The present investigation addresses the magnetocaloric behaviour in a series of Ni77−xMnxGa23 (x=23, 24, 25, 27 and 29) rapidly solidified alloys prepared in the form of ribbons by melt spinning technique. The approach of the study is to identify the off-stoichiometric composition wherein room temperature magneto-structural transformation is achieved. The alloy chemistry was tailored through Mn incorporation for Ni such that the magnetic and structural transitions were at close proximity to achieve highest entropy value of ΔS equal to 8.51 J Kg−1 K−1 for #Mn24 ribbon measured at an applied field of 3 T. When such transitions are more staggered as in #Mn29 the entropy value of ribbon reduced to as low as 1.61 J Kg−1 K−1. Near room temperature transformations in #Mn24 ribbon have been observed through calorimetric and thermomagnetic evaluation. Reverse martensitic transformation (martensite→autstenite) temperature indicates not only distinct change in the saturation flux density but also an inter-martensitic phase. Microstructural analysis of #Mn24 alloy ribbon revealed structural ordering with the existence of plate morphology evidenced for martensitic phase.