Structural and magnetic properties of La1-yNdy(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 compounds have been
investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. The single-phase NaZn13-type
cubic structure is stabilized for the compounds with y = 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4. All the synthesized compounds
are ferromagnetic. Their Curie temperature TC slightly increases with increasing Nd up to y = 0.3. The most
striking effect of the Nd substitution, however, is in their itinerant-electron metamagnetic behavior and the
magnetocaloric effect in the vicinity of TC. The maximum entropy change decreases somewhat, but the
relative cooling power increases with increasing Nd content (i.e. for y = 0.3). ?? 2003 Elsevier Science B.V.
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