Critical behaviour and magnetocaloric properties of Fe88Zr5Hf2B4Cu1 metallic glass for near-room temperature magnetic refrigeration application†

Abstract

The escalating global demand for energy has precipitated a rapid expansion of the refrigeration industry, necessitating the development of innovative, sustainable, and economically viable methods. Green magnetic refrigeration technologies, which can be optimized within a concise time frame, are of particular emphasis. The primary objective of this article is to establish an efficient and accurate methodology for predicting and preparing the magnetocaloric properties of relevant materials. In the present article Fe₈₈Zr₅Hf₂B₄Cu₁ is synthesized by arc melting and melt spinning without any heat treatments. The structural, thermal, magnetic and morphological properties are studied using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study is a comprehensive examination of the critical exponents of the Fe₈₈Zr₅Hf₂B₄Cu₁ alloy. It employs a variety of analytical techniques, such as Arrot plots, Kouvel–Fisher plots, and magnetocaloric analysis, to clarify the alloy's magnetic behaviour near the transition temperature. The onset of ferromagnetic behaviour is precisely identified at 284 K, as determined by the transition temperature. The critical exponents derived from various methods align with the theoretical predictions of the 3D Heisenberg model, suggesting short-range interactions and magnetic inhomogeneity, consistent with the magnetization data. Additionally, the Arrot plot verifies a second-order phase transition, which offers valuable insights into the alloy's magnetic phase transition. The investigations indicate that the Fe₈₈Zr₅Hf₂B₄Cu₁ compound is a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration applications due to its moderate magnetocaloric effect (MCE) near room temperature and large temperature range.