The effect of RE (RE=Pr, Ce) substitution on formability, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the Fe88Zr2Ti2Nd4B4 amorphous alloy

In this work, the minor Pr and Ce were employed to replace Nd in the Fe88Zr2Ti2Nd4B4 amorphous alloy (AA), and their effects on formability, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties were investigated. Although the formability of the base AA is slightly deteriorated, it is still very superior to other Fe-based AAs. The magnetic results show that Curie temperature (Tc), saturation magnetization (Ms) and maximum magnetic entropy change (-Delta Smpeak) of the base AA all decrease with the minor substitution, while the amplitude of decrease induced by the Ce substitution is much larger than that caused by the Pr substitution. The mechanism for the decrease in Tc, Ms and -Delta Smpeak was further discussed. Although the -Delta Smpeak of the AA decreases from 4.14 J/(kgK) to 3.79 J/(kgK) under 5 T, the working temperature range instead increases with the minor substitution, which leads to a maximum refrigeration capacity obtained in the Fe88Zr2Ti2Nd3Ce1B4 AA (- 707.0 J/kg under 5 T).