Controllable spin-glass behavior and large magnetocaloric effect in Gd-Ni-Al bulk metallic glasses

Glass-forming ability, spin-glass (SG) behavior, and magnetocaloric effect in Gd55NixAl45-x (x = 15, 20, 25, 30) metallic alloys were investigated. A ferromagnetic SG behavior was observed for glassy ribbons with compositions of x = 15, 20, and 25, but it disappeared for that of x = 30. Furthermore, the maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmmax) increased with the increasing Ni/Al-ratio while the decrease of full width at half −ΔSmmax was almost negligible. Accordingly, −ΔSmmax of 9.25 J kg−1 K−1, adiabatic temperature change of 4.3 K and refrigeration capacity of 851 J kg−1 under 50 kOe were obtained for Gd55Ni30Al15 glassy alloy.