Theoretical investigations on magnetocaloric effect in Er1−yTbyAl2 series

•Modeling Er(1−y)TbyAl2 intermetallic compounds.•Magnetic entropy changes in Er(1−y)TbyAl2.•Adiabatic temperature changes in Er0.75Tb0.25Al2 and Er0.65Tb0.35Al2 compounds.

We report on the magnetic and magnetocaloric effect calculations in rare earth Er1−yTbyAl2 compounds (y=0.00, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.00). Our model Hamiltonian has contributions of the crystalline electrical field anisotropy in both Er and Tb magnetic sublattices, disorder in exchange interactions among Er–Er, Tb–Tb and Er–Tb magnetic ions and the Zeeman effect. The magnetization, the isothermal entropy change (ΔST) and the adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) dependence on temperature were simulated and, compared with the experimental data available.