The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx compounds

•Magnetic properties and MCE of LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were studied.•FM to PM magnetic transition were observed in LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx (x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3).•Boron doping can change the magnetic phase transition in LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx.•Large magnetocaloric in LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx (x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were observed. The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) intermetallic compounds have been studied. A ferromagnetic (FM) to paramagnetic (PM) transition is observed in LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx (x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) compared to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) to PM transition of the parent LaFe11.5Al1.5 compound. The Curie temperature (TC) is improved and the thermal hysteresis is depressed by increasing the boron content x from 0.1 to 0.3. The magnetic transition is changed from weakly first order to second order with increasing boron content. The maximum magnetic entropy changes (−ΔSM) under a field change of 0–3T are 7.64J/kg·K at TC=178K, 7.38J/kg·K at TC=185K and 7.25J/kg·K at TC=189K for the LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx with x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3, respectively. The LaFe11.5Al1.5Bx compounds are worth to be studied in-depth because of their abundant magnetism.