Effect of magnetic annealing on magnetostrictive performance of a 〈1 1 0〉 oriented crystal Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95

A 〈1 1 0〉 oriented rod of the alloy Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.95 was subjected to a magnetic heat treatment, cooling through its Curie temperature under 240 kA/m. Besides the improved magnetostriction under free conditions, the magnetically annealed rod still exhibited an obvious magnetostriction “jump” effect when subjected to a uniaxial compressive pre-stress. A giant magnetostriction of 2680×10⁻⁶ was achieved under 640 kA/m and 30 MPa, which became 67% larger than before magnetic annealing. The optimum magnetostrictive strain coefficient d₃₃ was also dramatically enhanced. Magnetic force microscopy images show magnetic domain configurations that contribute to the improved magnetostrictive performance. The effect of induced additional anisotropy by magnetic annealing on the improvement of the magnetostriction is also discussed.     

Magnetic properties and static-dynamic magnetostrictive characteristics for SmFe2/Fe exchange-coupled multilayers

Giant magnetostrictive SmFe₂/Fe exchange-coupled multilayers were fabricated by ion beam sputtering deposition on glass substrates. The effects of SmFe₂/Fe exchange coupling action and vacuum annealing on soft-magnetic property and static-dynamic magnetostrictive characteristics of SmFe₂/Fe multilayers were investigated. The results showed that the soft-magnetic, static-dynamic magnetostrictive characteristics were greatly improved by SmFe₂/Fe exchange coupling action and proper vacuum annealing treatment temperature. Compared with that of SmFe₂ single film, the coercivity in the direction of easy magnetization axis for SmFe₂/Fe exchange-coupled multilayers exhibited a greater decrease. Better soft-magnetic properties were achieved (H_c=2.54 kA/m, M_s=120.38 emu/g, and M_r/M_s=0.21) after vacuum annealing at certain temperature. The magnetostrictive coefficient for SmFe₂/Fe exchange-coupled multilayers was about 135 ppm at 16 kA/m magnetic field. At first order resonant frequency (99.2 Hz), the amplitude peak-peak value for the as-deposited SmFe₂/Fe exchange-coupled multilayers was 46 μm. After the vacuum annealing treatment at 250 °C, the amplitude peak-peak value increased to 650 μm.     

Magnetostriction, Curie temperature and microstructure of Tb0.29(Dy1−xPrx)0.71Fe1.97 oriented alloys

The Tb_0.29(Dy_1−xPr_x)_0.71Fe_1.97 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) alloys were prepared by directional solidification method. The orientation, magnetostriction λ, Curie temperature T_c and microstructure of alloys were characterized by XRD, standard resistant strain gauge technique, VSM and SEM-EDS. The results reveal that the alloys have a preferred orientation of 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 3〉 direction when x>0. With the increase in Pr content, the T_c of alloys decreases gradually and the non-cubic phase appears, resulting in the decline of λ dramatically, from 1935.2×10⁻⁶ for x=0 to 695.9×10⁻⁶ for x=0.3 at a compressive stress of 6 MPa and a magnetic field of H=240 kA m⁻¹.     

Giant forced volume magnetostriction in polycrystalline Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95 alloys under magnetomechanical loading

The axial and transversal linear magnetostrictions (λ_∥ and λ_⊥) in [1 1 0] oriented polycrystalline Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.95 alloys were measured simultaneously under uniaxial magnetomechanical loading to get the forced volume magnetostriction (ω=λ_∥+2λ_⊥). Despite the almost zero ω observed in Terfenol-D single crystals, it reaches up to 1000×10⁻⁶ in polycrystalline Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.95 alloys near the saturation magnetic field under a stress above 50 MPa.     

The magnetostriction of Fe-(18−x) at% Ga-x at% Al (3≤x≤13.5) alloys

The ingot of Fe-(18−x) at% Ga-x at% Al (3≤x≤13.5) alloys was prepared from high purity elements using a high vacuum arc melting system. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the alloys were disordered bcc A2 structure. The magnetostriction of the alloys was measured and the effect of partial substitution of Ga with Al on the magnetostriction of the alloys was investigated. Fe-9 at% Ga-9 at% Al alloy, the optimizing magnetostrictive alloy was found in Fe-(18−x) at% Ga-x at% Al (3≤x≤13.5) alloys. The saturated magnetostriction of the directional solidification Fe-9 at% Ga-9 at% Al rod is up to 135 ppm for 0 MPa and 221 ppm for 53 MPa. It was found that the alloy has the high linearity of the magnetostriction curve, the low hysteresis and saturated magnetic field, which suggests the directional solidification Fe-9 at% Ga-9 at% Al alloy is a potential candidate for magnetostrictive actuator and transducer applications.     

Irreversible magnetovolume effect in Nd7Rh3 single crystal

Magnetovolume effect in Nd₇Rh₃ single crystal has been studied by measuring the magnetostriction as a function of external magnetic field at 4.2 K. An irreversible magnetovolume effect having a negative remanent volume magnetostriction was observed when the external magnetic field was applied along the b-axis. The irreversible magnetostrictive effect takes place in the longitudinal magnetostriction along the b-axis. The remanent magnetostriction along the b-axis relaxes after removing external magnetic field for several hours and equilibrium state is stabilized.     

Structure and magnetostrictive properties of melt-spun Pr(Fe0.4Co0.6)1.93 alloys

Pr(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 ribbons were prepared by a melt-spinning method. Their structure and magnetic properties are investigated as functions of wheel speed and annealing temperature. The as-spun ribbon consists of a Pr(Fe, Co)₂ cubic Laves phase and an amorphous phase at a wheel speed of v≥35 m/s, while the non-cubic phases of PuNi₃-type and rare earth appear when the speed lower than 30 m/s. A single Pr(Fe, Co)₂ phase with MgCu₂-type structure has been synthesized by the process for the wheel speed of v≥35 m/s and subsequent annealing at 500 °C for 30 min. The epoxy/Pr(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 composite has been produced by a cold isostatic pressing technique, and the magnetic properties have been investigated. The composite rod sample possesses good magnetostrictive properties, i.e., a large magnetostriction (λ_a=λ_∥−λ_⊥) of 710 ppm at 800 kA/m and a dynamic coefficient d₃₃ of 0.67 nm/A at 100 kA/m, and is of practical value.     

Forced volume magnetostriction in Mn3.3Sn0.7C compound at room temperature

The negative volume magnetostriction in the external magnetic field for antiperovskite Mn_3.3Sn_0.7C compound is discovered. Its magnetic transition temperature from paramagnetism to ferrimagnetism is 348 K. The linear and volume magnetostrictions were investigated by measuring the change in length along the three-dimensional directions of the square samples at room temperature. Volume contraction was observed along all of the three directions throughout the whole magnetization. The value of volume magnetostriction is −44×10⁻⁶ at 1.5 T. The magnetization saturates basically at 1.5 T, however the volume magnetostriction should be higher with further increase in magnetic field.     

Magnetostriction and magnetic anisotropy of (Sm,Ce)Fe2 compounds

The structural, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of Sm_1−xCe_xFe₂ (0≤x≤1) Laves compounds have been investigated. The magnetostriction coefficient λ₁₁₁ and the anisotropy of the Sm_1−xCe_xFe₂ compounds decrease with increasing Ce content. The decreasing of anisotropy results in an enhancement of the anisotropic magnetostriction at low magnetic fields for the compounds with a small amount of Ce substituted for Sm.     

Phase switching phenomenon in magnetoelectric laminate polymer composites: Experiments and modeling

This article reports on the magnetoelectric (ME) effect observed in bi- and trilayered polymers consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyurethane (PU) filled with magnetically hard magnetite Fe₃O₄ or Terfenol-D(TeD) magnetostrictive material. The samples had the following compositions: (PU+2 wt% Fe₃O₄/PVDF), (PU+2 wt% Fe₃O₄/PVDF/PU+2 wt% Fe₃O₄), (PU+50 wt% TeD/PVDF) and (PU+50 wt% TeD/PVDF/PU+50 wt% TeD). A model, based on a driven damped oscillation system, has been developed to evaluate and study the influence of the first and second-order ME coefficients on the dc magnetic field-induced phase switching phenomenon between dynamic ME current and the applied ac magnetic field. A good agreement between the simulated results and experimental data was obtained and it was found that phase switching characteristics are mainly influenced by the ME losses induced by magnetostriction losses.     

Investigation of magnetocaloric effect in La0.45Pr0.25Ca0.3MnO3 by magnetic,differential scanning calorimetry and thermal analysis

We investigated magnetocaloric effect in La_0.45Pr_0.25Ca_0.3MnO₃ by direct methods (changes in temperature and latent heat) and indirect method (magnetization isotherms). This compound undergoes a first-order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition with T_C=200 K upon cooling. The paramagnetic phase becomes unstable and it transforms into a ferromagnetic phase under the application of magnetic field, which results in a field-induced metamagnetic transition (FIMMT). The FIMMT is accompanied by release of latent heat and temperature of the sample as evidenced from differential scanning calorimetry and thermal analysis experiments. A large magnetic entropy change of ΔS_m=−7.2 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at T=212.5 K and refrigeration capacity of 228 J kg⁻¹ are found for a field change of ΔH=5 T. It is suggested that destruction of magnetic polarons and growth of ferromagnetic phase accompanied by a lattice volume change with increasing magnetic field is responsible for the large magnetocaloric effect in this compound.     

Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2单晶中巨磁致伸缩的逆效应

研究了Terfenol-D材料中巨磁致伸缩的逆效应,即磁机械效应.基于Stoner-Wohlfarth(SW)模型,考虑磁晶各向异性和应力各向异性能,依据自由能极小原理,获得了退磁态下Terfenol-D单晶中磁化强度方向和压应力的关系.采用数值方法求解了平衡条件下的非线性方程组.理论结果表明,Terfenol-D巨磁致伸缩单晶中的磁各向异性取决于磁晶各向异性和应力各向异性之间的竞争.在压应力的作用下,Terfenol-D单晶中的磁各向异性由立方向单轴转变.理论和实验结果的比较表明,存在一个临界压应力,使磁致伸缩效应达到极大值.该理论结果还解释了压应力使得Terfenol-D单晶材料难于磁化和磁致伸缩效应出现极大值的实验事实.理论计算不仅为研究这类问题提供了一个更准确的方法,而且其结果也有助于理解类似材料中的磁化过程. 关键词： Terfenol-D 磁机械效应 巨磁致伸缩效应 磁各向异性     

Antiferromagnetic phase transition in garnet-type AgCa2Co2V3O12 and AgCa2Ni2V3O12

Antiferromagnetic phase transition in two vanadium garnets AgCa₂Co₂V₃O₁₂ and AgCa₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂ has been found and investigated extensively. The heat capacity exhibits sharp peak due to the antiferromagnetic order with the Néel temperature T_N=6.39 K for AgCa₂Co₂V₃O₁₂ and 7.21 K for AgCa₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂, respectively. The magnetic susceptibilities exhibit broad maximum, and these T_N correspond to the inflection points of the magnetic susceptibility χ a little lower than T(χ_max). The magnetic entropy changes from zero to 20 K per mol Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions are 5.31 J K⁻¹ mol-Co²⁺-ion⁻¹ and 6.85 J K⁻¹ mol-Ni²⁺-ion⁻¹, indicating S=1/2 for Co²⁺ ion and S=1 for Ni²⁺ ion. The magnetic susceptibility of AgCa₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂ shows the Curie-Weiss behavior between 20 and 350 K with the effective magnetic moment μ_eff=3.23 μ_B Ni²⁺-ion⁻¹ and the Weiss constant θ=−16.4 K (antiferromagnetic sign). Nevertheless, the simple Curie-Weiss law cannot be applicable for AgCa₂Co₂V₃O₁₂. The complex temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility has been interpreted within the framework of Tanabe-Sugano energy diagram, which is analyzed on the basis of crystalline electric field. The ground state is the spin doublet state ²E(t₂⁶e) and the first excited state is spin quartet state ⁴T₁(t₂⁵e²) which locates extremely close to the ground state. The low spin state S=1/2 for Co²⁺ ion is verified experimentally at least below 20 K which is in agreement with the result of the heat capacity.     

Structure, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of as-deposited Fe-Ga thin films

Polycrystalline Fe_100−xGa_x (19?x?23) films were grown on Si(1 0 0) substrates at different partial pressures of sputtering gas ranging from 3 to 7 μbar. Microstructural, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometry respectively. X-ray diffraction showed that all films have the body-centered cubic (bcc) Fe-Ga phase with the 〈1 1 0〉 direction out of the film plane. Magnetic characterization of the films showed that the films prepared at 3 μbar had weak uniaxial anisotropy whereas films grown at Ar pressures in the range 4-7 μbar were magnetically isotropic. The effective saturation magnetostriction constants (λ_eff) of the films were measured using the Villari effect. It was found that effective saturation magnetostriction constants were almost constant over the Ga composition range achieved by varying the sputtering pressure. The measured effective magnetostriction constants fit closely to the calculated saturation magnetostriction constants of 〈1 1 0〉 textured polycrystalline films with the 〈1 1 0〉 directions slightly canted with respect to the normal to the sample surface. It was found that a high pressure of the sputtering gas effected the magnetic softness of the films. The saturation field increased and remanence ratio decreased with increase in pressure.     

Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2单晶中巨磁致伸缩的逆效应

研究了Terfenol-D材料中巨磁致伸缩的逆效应,即磁机械效应.基于Stoner-Wohlfarth(SW)模型,考虑磁晶各向异性和应力各向异性能,依据自由能极小原理,获得了退磁态下Terfenol-D单晶中磁化强度方向和压应力的关系.采用数值方法求解了平衡条件下的非线性方程组.理论结果表明,Terfenol-D巨磁致伸缩单晶中的磁各向异性取决于磁晶各向异性和应力各向异性之间的竞争.在压应力的作用下,Terfenol-D单晶中的磁各向异性由立方向单轴转变.理论和实验结果的比较表明,存在一个临界压应力,使磁致伸缩效应达到极大值.该理论结果还解释了压应力使得Terfenol-D单晶材料难于磁化和磁致伸缩效应出现极大值的实验事实.理论计算不仅为研究这类问题提供了一个更准确的方法,而且其结果也有助于理解类似材料中的磁化过程.     

Study of the magnetostrictive strains in Pr6Fe11Ga3 alloy

Magnetoelastic properties of the Pr₆Fe₁₁Ga₃ alloy are studied by magnetostriction and thermal expansion measurements. The effects of short- and long-range magnetic ordering processes about Curie temperature clearly appear in the temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetostriction as two increasing steps with decreasing temperatures. Thermal variations of the total magnetocrystalline anisotropy introduce pronounce changes in the isofield curves of the forced magnetostriction as a negative minimum below 200 K, a compensation phenomena about 250 K, and a positive maximum between 250 K and T_c=320 K. The observed behavior of magnetostriction is discussed in terms of the competitive anisotropies of Pr and Fe sublattices and coupling magnetostrictive constants.     

Heat generation ability in AC magnetic field of nano MgFe2O4-based ferrite powder prepared by bead milling

Nanosized MgFe₂O₄-based ferrite powder having heat generation ability in an AC magnetic field was prepared by bead milling and studied for thermal coagulation therapy applications. The crystal size and the particle size significantly decreased by bead milling. The heat generation ability in an AC magnetic field improved with the milling time, i.e. a decrease in crystal size. However, the heat generation ability decreased for excessively milled samples with crystal sizes of less than 5.5 nm. The highest heat ability (ΔT=34 °C) in the AC magnetic field (370 kHz, 1.77 kA/m) was obtained for fine MgFe₂O₄ powder having a ca. 6 nm crystal size (the samples were milled for 6-8 h using 0.1 mm ? beads). The heat generation of the samples was closely related to hysteresis loss, a B-H magnetic property. The reason for the high heat generation properties of the samples milled for 6-8 h using 0.1 mm ? beads was ascribed to the increase in hysteresis loss by the formation of a single domain. Moreover, the improvement in heating ability was obtained by calcination of the bead-milled sample at low temperature. In this case, the maximum heat generation (ΔT=41 °C) ability was obtained for a ca. 11 nm crystal size sample was prepared by crystal growth during the sample calcination. On the other hand, the ΔT value for Mg_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄ was synthesized using a reverse precipitation method decreased by bead milling.     

Influence of low Co substitution on magnetoelastic properties of HoFe11Ti intermetallic compound

The thermal expansion and magnetostriction of HoFe_11−xCo_xTi (x=0, 0.3, 0.7 and 1) intermetallic compounds were measured, using the strain gauge method in the temperature range 77–590 K under applied magnetic fields up to 1.5 T. Results show that for samples with x=0 and 0.3, both linear thermal expansion and linear thermal expansion coefficient exhibit anomalies below the Curie temperature. Below room temperature, the spontaneous volume magnetostriction decreases with Co content. For all compounds studied, the anisotropic magnetostriction shows similar behaviour in the measured temperature range. The magnetostriction compensation occurs above room temperature in all samples. The volume magnetostriction shows a linear dependence on the applied field and by approaching the Curie temperature this trend changes to parastrictive behaviour. The results of the spontaneous magnetostriction are discussed based on the local magnetic moment model. The contribution of magnetostriction attributed to the magnetic sublattices R and T (Fe or Co) is discussed.     

Superconductivity in porous MgB2

Porous magnesium diboride samples have been prepared by the heat treatment of a pressed mixture of Mg and MgB₂ powders. It was found that linked superconducting structure is formed down to the minimum normalized density γ_c=d/d₀≅0.16 (percolation threshold), where d is the density of MgB₂ averaged over the sample, d₀=2.62 g/cm³ is the X-ray density. Lattice parameters and critical temperature of the porous sample decrease with increasing porosity (decreasing γ) and T_c2≅32 K is minimal at γ_c. The grain boundaries in the porous samples are transparent for the current and J_c∼3×10⁵ A/cm² in self field at T=20 K in the samples with γ∼0.24.     

A survey on the effect of vanadium content on the magnetoelastic properties of YFe12−xVx alloys

Experimental results on the thermal expansion and magnetostriction of YFe_12−xV_x (1.5≤x≤3.5) alloys are reported. The results show that the anisotropic magnetostriction (Δλ) at a finite field (1.5 T) increases with increasing vanadium content in the range of x<2. But for x>2, a decrease in the magnetic anisotropy with increasing vanadium content causes a decrease in the saturation values of Δλ. In addition, the thermal expansion coefficient becomes a minimum for x≈2. Experimental curves exhibit that the forced volume magnetostriction (ΔV/V) is positive and increases linearly with the applied field at high fields. But in the low field region (≤0.5 T), a minimum appears in the isothermal curves of ΔV/V around the saturation field. The results are explained by considering the influence of vanadium content on the magnetization anisotropy of YFe_12−xV_x compounds.