Mo2NiB2-type Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga compounds: Magnetic properties and giant low-temperature coercivity

The magnetocaloric effects of Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga were calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and they reach maximum values of −1.62 J/kg K and −1.31 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe at 50 K and 58 K, respectively. Low temperature magnetic ordering with enhanced anisotropic effects in Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga is accompanied by a positive magnetocaloric effect with isothermal magnetic entropy changes of +1.63 J/kg K and +1.06 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe at 10 K and 8 K, respectively.245