Phase, microstructure, and magnetocaloric effect of the large disc LaFe11.6Si1.4 alloy

The large disc LaFe11.6Si1.4 alloy, which was prepared by medium-frequency induction furnace, was annealed at 1503 K for different time. The main phases were 1:13 phase in the edge parts of the large discs alloy; the impurity phases included α-Fe phase, LaFeSi phase, and even very small amount of La5Si3 phase. The amounts of impurity phases reduced with increasing in annealing time. The magnetic properties in the edge parts of the large discs LaFe11.6Si1.4 alloy were investigated. The magnetic susceptibility had an abrupt change at Curie temperature(TC) as the magnetization in M-T curves. The alloys had almost the same TC(191 K), the magnetocaloric effect(MCE) and relative cooling power(RCP) increased with increasing in annealing time. In addition, for the same alloy, the magnetic hysteresis decreased with the increase in temperature.