The Influence of Yb Doping and Sintering Conditions on the Magnetocaloric and Mechanical Properties of EuS

For this work, europium monosulfide (EuS) powders were prepared by sulfurizing Eu2O3 powder with CS2 gas. The synthesized EuS powders were sintered by SPS at temperatures in the 800–1600 °C range for 0.33–1 h at 50 MPa under vacuum conditions. The influences of Yb doping and sintering conditions on the magnetocaloric and mechanical properties of EuS were investigated systematically. An increase in sintering temperature caused the rise of lattice parameters of EuS, whereas Yb doping caused them to drop. SEM showed that the grain size of the EuS increased with sintering temperatures in the 1000–1400 °C range. Higher sintering temperatures can enlarge the magnetizability and saturation magnetization of EuS compact. On the contrary, Yb doping can weaken the magnetizability and saturation magnetization of EuS compact. All sintered polycrystalline EuS compacts had weaker thermomagnetic irreversibility and lower magnetic anisotropy.