The influence of boron atoms on the magnetocaloric effect of Laves compounds Gd(Fe, Al) 2

The influences of partial boron substitution on the phase formation, Curie temperature and magnetic entropy of GdFe 0.3(Al 1− x B x ) 1.7 compounds with Laves phase structure have been studied. With addition of a small amount of boron ( x ≤ 0.05), single phase materials with Laves phase structure still form. When x ≥ 0.075, GdB 4 appears as a secondary phase. The appropriate addition of boron ( x = 0.05) decreases the change of the magnetic entropy slightly, while improving the Curie temperature by 5 K and extending the width of the peak for the magnetic entropy change.