Simultaneously achieving good mechanical properties and low-field-actuated large reversible effective refrigeration capacity in a Ni-Co-Fe-Mn-In Heusler alloy

Abstract

Magnetic refrigeration leveraging magnetocaloric effect has received considerable attention on account of its great potential to replace the traditional refrigeration leveraging the gas compression/expansion. The search for the magnetocaloric materials with good mechanical properties and large reversible effective refrigeration capacity (RC_eff) under low magnetic fields provided by permanent magnets (not exceeding 2 T) is nowadays very active. Here, we report the simultaneous achievement of good mechanical properties and large reversible RC_eff under low magnetic fields not exceeding 2 T in the Ni₄₄Co₂Fe₄Mn₃₈In₁₂ Heusler alloy with a second-order magnetic phase transition. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the simultaneous achievement of good mechanical properties and large reversible RC_eff under low magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets in the Ni-Mn-X-based (Sn, In and Sb) Heusler alloys. The compressive fracture strength and fracture strain of Ni₄₄Co₂Fe₄Mn₃₈In₁₂ alloy reach 858.2 MPa and 8.9 %, respectively. The large reversible RC_eff of 90.3 J kg⁻¹ and 69.0 J kg⁻¹ are achieved under magnetic fields of 2 T and 1.5 T, respectively. Moreover, this alloy is non-toxic. All these metrics make the Ni₄₄Co₂Fe₄Mn₃₈In₁₂ alloy an attractive candidate for magnetic refrigeration.