The magnetocaloric effect in Nd(Co1−xFex)12B6 alloys

The first-order phase transitions in NdFe₁₂B₆ and PrFe₁₂B₆ alloys give rise to giant values of magnetic entropy changes in relatively low field. However, the metastable nature of these alloys associates with a special procedure of preparation and considerable amount of impurities inevitably. By alloying NdFe₁₂B₆ with the iso-structural compound of NdCo₁₂B₆ appropriately, a Nd(Co_1−xFe_x)₁₂B₆ system which possesses the stable SrNi₁₂B₆-type structure can be obtained directly via the standard casting-and-annealing method. Remarkably improved thermal and magnetic reversibility are observed in the present system. The second-order phase transitions in NdCo₁₂B₆ alloy give rise to the relative cooling power, which is comparable with that of NdFe₁₂B₆ alloy around the ordering temperature.