Abstract
In this work the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of a (Nd0.5Pr0.5)(2)Fe14B single crystal have been investigated in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. Magnetic phase transition temperatures (spin-reorientation transition (SRT) at T-SR = 73 K and Curie point at T-c = 570 K) were determined together with the values of saturation magnetization M-s and magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants K-1 and K-2.
In the vicinity of a spin-reorientation magnetic phase transition, the value of the magnetocaloric effect was determined as an isothermal magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M). The universal curve of Delta S'(0) around T-SR under various magnetic field changes has been constructed by using a phenomenological procedure.
It is found that this approach is applicable to materials with a second-order spin-reorientation phase transition.