Abstract

The magnetocaloric effect in TbNi2 alloy ribbons synthesized by rapid solidification was investigated. This material crystallizes in a superstructure of the cubic Laves phase structure type C15 (space group F-43m). The saturation magnetization and Curie temperature are M-S = 134 +/- 2A m(2) kg(-1) and T-C = 37 +/- 1K, respectively. For a magnetic field change of 5 T, the material shows a maximum magnetic entropy change vertical bar Delta S-M(peak)vertical bar = 13.9 J kg(-1) K-1, with a full-width at half-maximum delta T-FWHM = 32 K, and a refrigerant capacity RC = 441 J kg(-1). The RC value is similar to those reported for other magnetic refrigerants operating within the temperature range of 10-80 K. Finally, it is worth noting that the use of rapid solidification circumvents the necessity for longterm high-temperature homogenization processes normally needed with these RNi2 alloys. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics.