Magnetic and calorimetric measurements on the magnetocaloric effect in La0.6Ca0.4MnO3

Magnetization and heat capacity measurements at different temperatures and fields were recorded on a sample of La0.6Ca0.4MnO3 with perovskite-like str ucture. Investigation into Curie temperature, magnetic entropy change and a nomaly of the heat capacity was carried out in the temperature range of 200 -300 K and magnetic field range of 0-3 T. The results show that the materia l displays a second-order phase transition at 260 K achieving modest magnet ic entropy variation suggesting that this material is a candidate for use a s an active magnetic refrigerant, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.