Excellent glass forming ability and refrigeration capacity of a Gd55Al18Ni25Sn2 bulk metallic glass

The glass-forming ability, magnetocaloric effect and excellent refrigeration capacity (RC) of Gd55Al18Ni25Sn2 bulk metallic glass (BMG) was investigated. The alloy possess high glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature as well as a relatively wide supercooled liquid region Delta T-x (Delta T-x = T-x - T-g) (37 K). The maximum magnetic entropy change d (-Delta S-m(peak)) of about 8.8 J kg(-1) K-1 is obtained in this alloy. (-Delta S-m(peak)) is about 10% higher than those for the well known magnetic refrigerant Gd55Al20Ni25 alloy. This BMG alloy also has a broader temperature range of the half maximum of the entropy change peak and value of about 94 K. At same time, the maximum magnetic refrigerant capacity (RC) of 827 J kg(-1) under the field of 5 T has been obtained. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.