Magneto caloric effects of (Gd1-xPrx)5Si2.1Ge1.8Sn0.1 alloys in low magnetic field near room temperature

(Gd1-xPrx)5Si2.1Ge1.8Sn0.1 alloys with x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 have been prepared by arc-melting method, and the crystal structure and magnetic properties were investigated by XRD and VSM measurements respectively. All the alloys adopt an orthorhombic Gd5Si4-type crystal structure as the main phase and undergo ferromagnetic ordering below their respective transition temperatures. The magnetic phase transition is fully reversible in temperature and field indicating a nature of second order phase transition, further confirmed by the Arrott plot technique. The Curie temperature (Tc) and the magnetic entropy change (ΔSm) were sensitive to the Pr content. A maximum magnetic entropy change of 2.45 J/kg K occur for x = 0.1 alloy at 275 K for a low magnetic field change of 1.6 T.