Large entropy change, adiabatic temperature change, and small hysteresis in La(Fe,Mn)11.6Si1.4 strip-cast flakes

We report on the microstructure, phase constitution and magnetocaloric properties in rapidly solidified La(Fe,Mn)11.6Si1.4 flakes prepared by strip casting technique. After a relatively short-time annealing at 1323 K for 12 h, LaFe11.6Si1.4 flakes constituting a nearly single NaZn13-structured La(Fe,Si)13, i.e. 1:13 phase, exhibit a large entropy change of 19.2 J/kg K and adiabatic temperature change of 6.5 K when the application of a magnetic field of 2 T at which temperature. These features are comparable to those observed in the bulk samples. More importantly, the thermal and magnetic hysteresis of the present flakes is significantly smaller than that in the bulk alloys. The Curie temperature can be accurately tuned through replacing Fe by Mn. Thus, La-Fe-Si-based strip-cast flakes are promising for magnetic refrigerants in mass production.