LaFe11.6Si1.4/Cu composites prepared by hot pressing

The geometry of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) alloys is of great importance to achieve high cooling performance of the magnetic regenerator The parallel thin plates are proven as the possible largest potential for efficient heat transfer [1]. The La(Fe, Si)₁₃-based magnetocaloric plates with a thickness about 0 5 mm are usually fabricated by a so-called thermal decomposition reaction technique in powder metallurgical processing [2]. The further thinner plates can be prepared by epoxy-bonded La-Fe-Si-based powders [3]. The heat transfer in such a composite, however, can be apparently descended by polymer mixing One solution to enhance thermal conductivity is the construction of metal-based composites by impregnating Cu [4] or Ag [5] in MCE particles followed by compacting/sintering In the present work, we have prepared La-Fe-Si/Cu composites by hot pressing (HP). The phase development, densification behavior, mechanical and magnetocaloric properties are investigated.