A Short Review on the Evolution of Magnetocaloric La(Fe,Si)₁₃ and Its Fabrication through Melt Spinning

Energy-efficient refrigeration technology needs to advance ineluctably due to rising energy consumption and diminishing fossil fuel and primitive hydrocarbon reserves. Further, the existing gas compression method releases huge amount of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that deplete the ozone layer. This is a global concern, which demands an immediate remedial technology. As a potential solution to the problem of sustainability and a means of meeting the ever-increasing demand for energy, environmentally friendly and socially responsible renewable energy sources could serve as an ideal replacement for traditional refrigeration technology. Solid-state refrigeration using magnetocaloric materials is one prominent technique that can be adopted for clean and economical refrigeration or cooling requirements. In this review, we briefly introduce the present understanding on magnetocaloric LaFe_13-Si alloys with a specific emphasis on their application in magnetic refrigeration. This paper deals with the advantages and disadvantages of different synthesis methods for producing LaFe_13-Si and enhancing its magnetocaloric effects. Annealing time, yield, composition, and relative cooling power are examined as prospective industrial implementation factors for the La(Fe,Si)₁₃ synthesis process. The initial sections have been devoted to an overview of the magnetocaloric effect and its different types and history. Further, the article reviews the evolution of a new preparation method called melt spinning, other synthesizing methods, and some developments around the world for the prototypes of La(Fe,Si)-based magnetic refrigeration methods. According to the findings in the scholarly literature, the synthesis process of melt spinning has the potential to be commercialized because of its capacity to create huge quantities of La(Fe,Si)₁₃ with a high purity in a very short amount of time.