| The magnetocaloric effect in series of amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cr5Nb4.5B16Cu and Fe72Cr8Nb3B16Cu samples has been studied by evaluating the magnetic entropy changes, ΔSm, from magnetization data. An addition of different amount of chromium to the FeNbBCu and the subsequent heat treatment were used to shift the Curie temperature of amorphous phase, TC(am), to the vicinity of room temperature. Upon a 0.6 T magnetic field change, the maximum entropy change ΔSm— 0.5 J/kgK is found at the Curie temperature TC(am) — 310 K of the amorphous Fe72Cr8Nb3B16Cu alloy. Hence, the FeCrNbBCu alloys could be considered as potential low cost magnetic refrigerants near room temperature. |
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