Patent ID: 8551210

Claim:
A composite article, comprising: (a) a solid matrix comprising a magnetocalorically passive material and having a microstructure comprising a plurality of particles of magnetocalorically passive material that have lattice structure that exhibits strain, or fractures, or both, from compression, and that, at least in part, touch one or more immediately neighboring particles of magnetocalorically passive material; and (b) a plurality of solid inclusions comprising a magnetocalorically active material at least partially embedded in the solid matrix, wherein the inclusions either: (1) have a microstructure comprising a plurality of particles of magnetocalorically active material that have lattice structure that exhibits strain, or fractures, or both from compression, and that, at least in part, touch one or more immediately neighboring particles of magnetocalorically passive material, or (2) form a series of foils, flakes, or tapes embedded in the matrix.