Microstructure, magnetic properties and cryogenic magnetocaloric effect in Cu20Al20Er60 amorphous ribbons

Highlights: • The microstructure and magnetocaloric effect in Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ ribbons were reported. • A large reversible cryogenic in Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ was observed. • The origin of MCE and its potential application in Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ were discussed. The glass forming ability, microstructure as well as the cryogenic magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in melt-spun Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ ribbons were reported. The as-spun ribbons were confirmed to possess fully amorphous structure with a large supercooled liquid region of 54.3 K. A broad second-order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (PM-FM) magnetic transition together with a large reversible cryogenic magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ amorphous ribbon was found around T_C of 13.3 K. The MCE parameters of the maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M^max), relative cooling power (RCP) and refrigerant capacity (RC) for Cu₂₀Al₂₀Er₆₀ amorphous ribbons were evaluated to be 15.3 J/kg K, 543 J/kg and 420 J/kg for a magnetic field change (ΔH) of 0–7 T, respectively.