On the determination of the phase composition of the Gd5Ge2Si2 alloy

Abstract Samples of the compound Gd 5 Ge 2 Si 2 were prepared by arc-melting and heat-treated at high temperatures. They were characterized by metallographic analysis and magnetization measurements. The observed phases were characterized using energy dispersive spectroscopy and subsequently using wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicate an imbalance in the proportion of Si and Ge for both observed phases, and good magnetocaloric properties for the heat-treated samples.