Magnetocaloric properties of a ribbon sample of Heusler alloy Ni-=SUB=-45-=/SUB=-Co-=SUB=-5-=/SUB=-Mn-=SUB=-31-=/SUB=-Al-=SUB=-19-=/SUB=-: experimental and theoretical studies

Abstract

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of magnetocaloric properties of a ribbon sample of alloy Ni45Co5Mn31Al19 in the range of T=80-350 K in magnetic fields of up to 8 T are given. This alloy demonstrates a first-order magnetostructural phase transition (MSPT) in the temperature range of 270 K, as well as a second-order transition --- at the Curie temperature of 294 K. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) was studied both by the direct method of magnetic field modulation in cyclic fields up to 8 T and by the classical extractive method. Field dependence of MCE have a different nature for first- and second-order phase transitions. A reverse MCE near MSPT is irreversible, i.e. the final sample temperature is 0.75 K below the initial one. Theoretical studies of magnetic properties and MCE of the studied sample were performed by ab initio calculations and Monte Carlo modeling. Theoretical temperature dependences of MCE are characterized by a similar interval of effect manifestation in the region of martensitic transformation and a narrower interval in the region of austenite Curie temperature as compared to the experiments, which is conditioned by the presence of a heterogeneous mixed state of austenite in the experimental sample. On the whole, theoretical data qualitatively and quantitatively reproduce the experimental dependences. Keywords: magnetocaloric effect, cyclic fields, Heusler alloy, Monte Carlo method.