An Er-based bulk metallic glass with high thermal stability and excellent magnetocaloric properties

A new heavy rare-earth-based Er36Ho20Al24Co20 bulk metallic glass (BMG) has been prepared by a copper mold casting. It is shown that this BMG alloy possesses higher glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature, larger effective activation energy for glass transition and crystallization compared with those of other known rare-earth-based BMGs. Under low magnetic field, this BMG alloy exhibits a comparable or even larger magnetocaloric effect than that of the previously reported RE-based BMGs and crystalline compounds. The high thermal stability and the excellent magnetocaloric effect together with other merits of the BMGs make this BMG alloy a suitable candidate for use as magnetic refrigerant in a temperature range below 50 K.