Theoretical Investigations On Giant Magnetocaloric Effect In Mnas 1-xsbx

In this work we apply a model to describe the magnetocaloric effect for the MnAs1-xSbx series of compounds, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. The behavior of the material under first order phase transitions is well described, and we are able to obtain the magnetocaloric potential for the series of compounds presenting first order magnetic phase transitions. Based on these results we predict the performance of a composite comprising a combination of compositions of this compound to work as active element in a magnetic refrigerator using an Erickson cycle spanning a great temperature range down from room temperature. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.3204302306Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1997) Phys. Rev. Lett., 78, p. 4494Gschneidner Jr., K.A., Pecharsky, V.K., (1997) Rare Earths: Science, Technology and Application, 3. , R.C. Bautista, C.O. Bounds, T.W. Ellis, B.T. Kilboum (Eds.), Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, WarendaleTegus, O., Brück, E., Buschow, K.H.J., De Boer, F.R., (2002) Nature, 415, p. 150Wada, H., Tanabe, Y., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 79, p. 3302Wada, H., Morikawa, T., Taniguchi, K., Shibata, T., Yamada, Y., Akishige, Y., (2003) Physica B, 328, p. 114Von Ranke, P.J., Grangeia, D.F., Caldas, A., De Oliveira, N.A., (2003) J. Appl. Phys., 93, p. 4055Dan'kov, S.Yu., Tishin, A.M., Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 57, p. 3478Von Ranke, P.J., Nobrega, E.P., De Oliveira, I.G., Gomes, A.M., Sarthour, R.S., (2001) Phys. Rev. B, 63, p. 184406De Oliveira, I.G., Caldas, A., Nobrega, E.P., De Oliveira, N.A., Von Ranke, P.J., (2000) Solid State Commun., 114, p. 487Hashimoto, T., Kuzuhara, T., Sahashi, M., Inomata, K., Tomokiyo, A., Yayama, H., (1987) J. Appl. Phys., 62, p. 3873Dai, W., (1992) J. Appl. Phys., 71, p. 5272Rodbell, D.S., (1961) Phys. Rev. Lett., 7, p. 1Smaili, A., Chahine, R., (1996) Adv. Cryog. Eng., 42, p. 445Bean, C.P., Rodbell, D.S., (1961) Phys. Rev., 126, p. 104Hashimoto, T., Numazawa, T., Shiino, M., Okada, T., (1981) Cryogenics, 21, p. 64