Influence of Hydrogen Absorption and Desorption on Magnetocaloric Effect of La0.6Pr0.4Fe11.4Si1.6B0.2 Alloy

Abstract: The La0.6Pr0.4Fe11.4Si1.6B0.2 alloy was produced by using industrial grade raw materials. The phase constituents and thermal magnetic properties of the alloy were characterized by X-ray diffraction with Cu kα radiation and vibration sample magnetism respectively. The influence of hydrogen absorption pressure on magnetocaloric effect and hydrogen desorption process were investigated. Results show that the annealing treated alloy was subjected to hydrogenation at 0.13 and 0.2 MPa, correspondingly its Curie temperature increased to 320 and 321 K respectively. The taking place of dehydrogenation was much easier for the alloy hydrogenated at lower absorption pressure rather than that at higher pressure. The Curie temperature of the alloy hydrogenated at 0.13 MPa and then dehydrogenated at 473K could lower to room temperature range, correpondingly the maximal magnetic entropy of the hydrides decreased while the relative cooling power were increased.