Inverse magnetocaloric effect in ferromagnetic Ni50Mn37+xSb13−x Heusler alloys

Abstract

A study of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in the ferromagnetic Heusler alloys Ni50Mn37+xSb13−x (x=0,0.5,1) has been carried out through magnetization measurements. An inverse magnetocaloric effect was observed in the vicinity of the first order martensitic transition. A maximum positive magnetic entropy change of ΔSm≈19J∕kgK at approximately 297K for a magnetic field change of 5T was observed. It is demonstrated that the martensitic transformation temperature, and the corresponding ΔSm, can be tuned through a slight variation in composition.