MAGNETOCALORIC ALLOYS USEFUL FOR MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION APPLICATIONS

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Contemplated is a magnetocaloric materials comprising : (CexNd1-x)Si wherein x is in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.9, and wherein the magnetocaloric material exhibits a 2nd order magnetic phase transition in the temperature range of about 10 K to about 42 K. Also contemplated is a magnetocaloric material comprising : RE(SiyA1 -y) wherein RE is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Nd, or Gd; wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Sn, Co. Al, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, or Cu : wherein y is in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.9. The alloys are fairly inexpensive, and in some cases exhibit only 2nd order magnetic phase transitions near their curie temperature, thus there are no thermal and structural hysteresis losses. This makes these compositions attractive candidates for use in magnetic refrigeration applications. The performance of the disclosed materials is similar or better to many of the known expensive rare-earth based magnetocaloric materials.