Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Dy(Co1−xFex)2 alloys

Polycrystalline samples of Laves-phase alloys Dy(Co1−xFex)2(x=0x=0, 0.02,0.04,0.06,0.08) have been prepared by arc-melting method. No first order phase transition was observed for samples with x≠0x≠0. With the increase of Fe content, the Curie temperature increases greatly, while the calculated magnetic entropy change, ΔSM, shows an obvious decrease with a broader peak. The origin of the magnetocaloric effect in Dy(Co1−xFex)2 alloys has been discussed.