Magnetic properties, Griffiths-like phase and magnetocaloric effect in Fe50Ni40Cr10 alloy

Transition metal alloys are recognized as stimuli-responsive magnetic alloys owing to their magnetic sensitivity toward stimuli, making them attractive for fundamental/technological quests. In this study, we report the comprehensive investigations of the Fe-Ni-Cr, i.e., Fe50Ni40Cr10 alloy, synthesized by the ball milling method. Structural analysis affirms single-phase cubic polycrystalline nature, and its elemental composition is also further analyzed. Magnetic results unveil soft ferromagnetic behaviour with high saturation magnetization, Curie temperature (T-C similar to 674 K), and short-range or feeble magnetic correlations in paramagnetic regime. Indication of a Griffiths-like phase, emerging above T-C due to observed magnetic correlations, is evidenced by the detailed inverse susceptibility analysis. In the vicinity region, the alloy's magnetocaloric properties and magnetic phase transition are also investigated. Obtained values of magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M similar to 1.79 J/kg-K) and relative cooling power (RCP similar to 188 J/kg) are significant, implying considerable heat conversion in a magnetic refrigeration cycle. Characteristics and power law dependency of Delta S-M/RCP reinstate the magnetization findings and further confirm the second-order nature of ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition through universal plot and Arrott plot analysis.