Magnetocaloric effect and magnetostrictive deformation in Tb-Dy-Gd-Co-Al with Laves phase structure

The influence of partial substitution of Co by Al atoms on the magnetocaloric and magnetostrictive properties of the multicomponent Tb-Dy-Gd-Co compounds with a Laves phase structure was investigated. The samples were obtained by arc melting using of high-purity rare-earth metals. The crystal structure of Tb 0.2 Dy 0.8 - x Gd x Co 2 - y Al y (x = 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5; y = 0 and 0.1) compounds was monitored by powder X-ray diffraction. The magnetostriction and the magnetocaloric effect in external magnetic field up to 12 and 18 kOe, respectively, were studied in wide temperature range. The Curie temperature of Al-content compounds increases by an average of 20 K, while the magnitudes of the magnetocaloric effect and the magnetostriction slightly decrease.