Outstanding magnetocaloric performances near 326 K of a vitrified Fe88Zr4Pr3B4Nd1 ribbon

In this paper, a Fe88Zr4Pr3B4Nd1 amorphous alloy (AA) that exhibits outstanding magnetocaloric performances near 326 K was vitrified into the shape of ribbon. The ribbon shows soft magnetic characteristics with a high saturation magnetization and a negligible coercivity at 200 K, which is well below its Curie temperature (∼ 326 K). The maximum magnetic entropy change (−∆Smpeak) and relative cooling power (RCP) of the Fe88Zr4Pr3B4Nd1 AA approach 4.06 J/(kgK) and 738.1 J/kg under 5 T, both of which are much higher than those of the vast majority of iron-based metallic glasses near ambient temperature. The high −∆Smpeak and RCP around 326 K suggest that the Fe88Zr4Pr3B4Nd1 AA can be considered as a better alternative to the component of refrigerants in a high-efficiency household magnetic refrigeration appliance.