The magnetic behavior, magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and refrigeration capacity of the Gd60Al10Mn30 metallic glass containing nanocrystallites of Gd are investigated. It is found that the temperature dependence of the magnetization exhibits multiple second-order magnetic transitions due to the composite effect. The resulting magnetic entropy change and adiabatic temperature change compare well with MCE of known magnetic refrigerants. A high refrigeration capacity of 660Jkg−1, a large operating temperature range around 150K and a soft magnetic behavior make this nanocomposite an attractive candidate as magnetic refrigerants in a temperature range where pure Dy is the best material currently available.

A thermodynamic analysis of the onset driving force for crystallization of super-cooled liquid has been conducted to explain strong composition dependency of the glass forming ability in the CaMg-Zn ternary alloy system observed experimentally. In addition to the onset driving force, other energetic and kinetic factors are discussed to explain the observed glass stabilities. The universality of this method is discussed, thus establishing an analytic approach for determining the most stable glass in a given alloy system.