Magnetocaloric Effect and Research Progress in Room Temperature Rare Earth Magnetic Refrigerant Materials

Room temperature magnetic refrigeration is a new refrigerant technique. The fundametal theories and the methods of measurement of magnetocaloric effect are described. The progress in research on rare earth magnetic refrigerant materials,such as Gd5Si2Ge2,La(FeSi)13,RECo2 and RE2Fe17series compounds and so on,is reviewed. The properties of different materials are compared and appraised briefly. The development prospect of rare earth magnetic refrigerant materials at room temperature is outlined.