The interdependences of preparation conditions,magnetic and crystal structures,and magnetocaloric effects(MCE)of the Mn Fe PGe-based compounds are reviewed.Based upon those findings,a new method for the evaluation of the MCE in these compounds,based on differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),is proposed.The Mn Fe PGe-based compounds are a group of magnetic refrigerants with giant magnetocaloric effect(GMCE),and as such,have drawn tremendous attention,especially due to their many advantages for practical applications.Structural evolution and phase transformation in the compounds as functions of temperature,pressure,and magnetic field are reported.Influences of preparation conditions upon the homogeneity of the compounds’chemical composition and microstructure,both of which play a key role in the MCE and thermal hysteresis of the compounds,are introduced.Lastly,the origin of the"virgin effect"in the Mn Fe PGebased compounds is discussed.
