Spark　plasma　sintering　technique　has　been　applied　to　synthesize　composite　Gd-x(Gd5Si2Ge2)(1-x)　(x=0.3,　0.5,　and　0.7)　with　layer　structure　using　high-purity　gadolinium　(Gd)　metal　and　Gd5Si2Ge2　alloys.　The　magnetocaloric　effect　of　the　composites　was　studied　by　directly　measuring　adiabatic　temperature　change　(Delta　T-ad)　with　a　magnetic-field　change　of　1.5　T　using　a　homemade　magnetocaloric　effect　measuring　apparatus.　With　increasing　x　from　0.3　to　0.7,　Delta　T-ad　peak　temperature　shifted　from　286　to　293　K　and　the　peak　values　of　Delta　T-ad　slowly　increased　from　1.6　to　2.0　K　at　a　magnetic-field　change　of　1.5　T.　Meanwhile,　the　Delta　T-ad　peak　of　the　composite　broadened　as　Gd　content　was　increased.　For　x=0.7,　the　composite　showed　a　Delta　T-ad　ranging　from　1.1　to　2.0　K　at　a　magnetic-field　change　of　1.5　T　in　a　temperature　range　of　260-300　K,　which　adapted　to　work　as　a　room-temperature　refrigerant.　(C)　2006　American　Institute　of　Physics.