Magnetic phase transition and magnetic entropy change in melt-spun La1−xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 ribbons

The magnetic phase transition and magnetic entropy change |ΔSm| of melt-spun La1−xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5) ribbons were investigated by measuring the magnetization as a function of temperature. The crystal structure of all annealed ribbons is NaZn13-type. The Curie temperature TC of the ribbons increased slightly with the increase of x. A large low-field |ΔSm| is observed in the compounds with x = 0 and 0.3, which resulted from a field-induced first-order magnetic phase transition (FOT). For the compound with x = 0.5, |ΔSm| reduced sharply and FOT disappeared at the same time. Enhancement of TC and |ΔSm| by Nd substitution suggests that La1−xNdxFe11.5Si1.5 (x = 0, 0.3) ribbons have great potential for applications as magnetic refrigerants working in low magnetic fields.