Magnetic and mechanical properties of Ni–Mn–Ga/Fe–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory composite

A ferromagnetic shape memory composite of Ni–Mn–Ga and Fe–Ga was fabricated by using spark plasma sintering method. The magnetic and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. Compared to the Ni–Mn–Ga alloy,the threshold field for magnetic-field-induced strain in the composite is clearly reduced owing to the assistance of internal stress generated from Fe–Ga. Meanwhile, the ductility has been significantly improved in the composite. A fracture strain of 26% and a compressive strength of 1600 MPa were achieved.     

Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy and Magnetoelasticity of Preferentially Oriented Martensitic Variants in Ni52Mn24Ga24 Single Crystals

The magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetoelasticity of preferentially oriented martensitic variants in an off-stoichiometric Ni52Mn24Ga24 single crystal have been investigated.We found that the easy magnetization direction of the martensite phase in the [110] direction,and the hard magnetization exhibited in [001],the growth direction of single crystals.The temperature dependence of the anisotropy fields and constants of Ni52Mn24Ga24 have been determined.It was found that,at the martensite phase,the anisotropy field increases monotonically with decreasing temperature,but the anisotropy constant first increases rapidly and then the increasing rate becomes smaller and smaller.Based on a previous model,the present results suggest that the competition between the Zeeman energy and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy is mainly responsible for the magnitude of magnetic-field-induced strain in this material.     

Elastic Modulus of Fe72.5Ga27.5 Magnetostrictive Alloy

The elastic modulus of Fe72.5Ga27.5 magnetostrictive alloy is determined by testing ac impedance resonance frequency and first-principle calculations. The observed elastic modulus is 90.2 GPa for a directionally solidified sample and 103.4 GPa for a water-quenched sample tested in a dc magnetic field of 32. 7mT without compressive pre-stress. The bulk modulus by first-principles calculation is 179.3GPa which is basically consistent with the experimental result. The elastic modulus first increases and then decreases with increasing dc magnetic field, attributed to magnetostriction occurrence in the Fe72.5Ga27.5 alloy. The elastic modulus increases with increasing compressive pre-stress, resulting from the initial magnetic states change under the applied compressive pre-stress. The elastic modulus increases match well with the improved magnetostriction after quenching.     

Relation between martensitic transformation temperature range and lattice distortion ratio of NiMnGaCoCu Heusler alloys

In order to study the relation between martensitic transformation temperature range AT （where AT is the difference between martensitic transformation start and finish temperature） and lattice distortion ratio （c/a） of martensitic transforma~ tion, a series of Ni46Mnz8_xGa22Co4Cux （x = 2-5） Heusler alloys is prepared by arc melting method. The vibration sample magnetometer （VSM） experiment results show that AT increases when x 〉 4 and decreases when x 〈 4 with x increasing, and the minimal AT （about 1 K） is found at x = 4. Ambient X-ray diffraction （XRD） results show that AT is proportional to c/a for non-modulated Ni46Mn28_xGa22Co4Cux （x = 2-5） martensites. The relation between AT and c/a is in agreement with the analysis result obtained from crystal lattice mismatch model. About 1000-ppm strain is found for the sample at x = 4 when heating temperature increases from 323 K to 324 K. These properties, which allow a modulation of AT and temperature-induced strain during martensitic transformation, suggest Ni46Mn24Ga22Co4Cu4 can be a promising actuator and sensor.     

Ti-Zr-Be-Fe quaternary bulk metallic glasses designed by Fe alloying

A series of Ti-Zr-Be-Fe bulk metallic glasses(BMGs)with good glass-forming ability(GFA)and high specific strength have been developed.With different alloying routes and content of Fe,it is found that these alloys exhibit different GFA and mechanical properties.The effects of Fe addition on the GFA and mechanical properties of Ti-Zr-Be alloy are systemically investigated.The possible mechanisms for the improvement or damage to the GFA by addition of Fe can be interpreted in view of the mixing enthalpy,atomic size differences and electronegativity differences of the alloys,while the mechanical properties strongly depend on the Poisson’s ratio and free volume concentration.The experimental results also show that alloying technology is an effective method to improve the GFA and mechanical properties of Ti-Zr-Be glassy alloy.     

The effect of Si content on the martensitic transformation temperature of Ni55.5Fe18Ga26.5-xSix alloys

This paper investigates the effects of substitution of Si for Ga on the martensitic transformation behaviours in Ni-Fe-Ga alloys by using optical metallographic microscope and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The structure type of Ni55.5Fe18Ga26.5-xSix alloys is determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD),and the XRD patterns show the microstructure of Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloys transformed from body-centred tetragonal martensite (with Si content x = 0) to body-centred cubic austenite (with x = 2) at room temperature. The martensitic transformation temperatures of the Ni55.5Fe18Ga26.5-xSix alloys decrease almost linearly with increasing Si content in the Si content range of x ≤ 3. Thermal treatment also plays an important role on martensitic transformation temperatures in the Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloy. The valence electronic concentrations,size factor,L21 degree of order and strength of parent phase influence the martensitic transformation temperatures of the Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloys. An understanding of the relationship between martensitic transformation temperatures and Si content will be significant for designing an appropriate Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloy for a specific application at a given temperature.     

Magnetic-Field-Induced Strains of Bonded Ni-Mn-Ga Melt-Spun Ribbons

Non-stoichiometric Ni50Mn27 Ga23 polycrystalline ribbons are prepared by melt-spinning technique. The magneticfield-induced strain （MFIS） of Ni-Mn-Ga bulk alloy prepared by bonding the melt-spun ribbons is obtained. The experimental results show that Ni50Mn27Ga23 bonded ribbons exhibit a typical thermal-elastic shape memory effect in the thickness direction. The martensitic transformation strain of bonded ribbons is an expansive strain of about 0.3% without the magnetic field and a contractive strain of about -0.46% at the magnetic field of 1 T. The field can not only enhance the value of the martensitic transformation strain of the bonded ribbons, but can also change the direction of the strain. The bonded ribbons alloy presents negative MFIS and obtains a larger value of the strain though influenced by the adhesive between the ribbons. Therefore, the preparation technique of the Ni-Mn-Ga bulk alloy by bonding melt-spun ribbons is helpful to get rid of the size restriction of the ribbon and to broaden the applications of the ribbons.     

Wiedemann effect of Fe—Ga based magnetostrictive wires

(Fe83Ga17)98Cr2 wires each with a diameter of 0.7 mm are prepared by hot swaging and warm drawing from the casting rods directly,because the ductility of Fe83Ga17 alloy is improved by adding Cr element.The Wiedemann twists and dependences on magnetostrictions of Fe83Ga17 and(Fe83Ga17)98Cr2 wires are investigated.The largest observed Wiedemann twists of 245 s·cm-1 and 182 s·cm-1 are detected in the annealed Fe83Ga17 and(Fe83Ga17)98Cr2 wires,respectively.The magnetostrictions of the annealed Fe83Ga17 and(Fe83Ga17)98Cr2 wires are 160 ppm and 107 ppm,respectively.The maximum of the Wiedemann twist increases with magnetostriction increasing.However the magnetostriction is just one important factor that affects the Wiedemann effect of alloy wire,and the relationship between magnetostriction and Wiedemann effect is a complex function rather than a simple function.     

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the Mnben Ni(110) c(2×2) surface alloy

Using first-principles total energy method, we study the structural, the electronic and the magnetic properties of the MnNi(110) c(2×2) surface alloy. Paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic surfaces in the top layer and the second layer are considered. It turns out that the substitutional alloy in the outermost layer with ferromagnetic surface is the most stable in all cases. The buckling of the Mn–Ni(110) c(2×2) surface alloy in the top layer is as large as 0.26á(1á=0.1 n13) and the weak rippling is 0.038 AA in the third layer, in excellent agreement with experimental results. It is proved that the magnetism of Mn can stabilize this surface alloy. Electronic structures show a large magnetic splitting for the Mn atom, which is slightly higher than that of Mn–Ni(100) c(2×2) surface alloy (3.41 eV) due to the higher magnetic moment. A large magnetic moment for the Mn atom is predicted to be 3.81 μ_B. We suggest the ferromagnetic order of the Mn moments and the ferromagnetic coupling to the Ni substrate, which confirms the experimental results. The magnetism of Mn is identified as the driving force of the large buckling and the work-function change. The comparison with the other magnetic surface alloys is also presented and some trends are predicted.     

Site Preference and Alloying Effect of Excess Ni in Ni-Mn-Ga Shape Memory Alloys

The formation energies and electronic structures of Ni-rich Ni-Mn-Ga alloys have been investigated by firstprinciples calculations using the pseudopotential plane wave method based on density functional theory. The results show that the alloying Ni prefers to occupy the Mn site directly in Ni9Mn3Ga4 and to occupy the Mn site and drive the displaced Mn atom to the Ga site in NigMn4Ga3, which is in accordance with the experimental result. According to the lattice constants and the density of states analyses, these site preference behaviours are closely related to the smaller lattice distortion and the lower-energy electronic structure when the excess Ni occupies the Mn site. The effect of Ni alloying on martensitic transformation is discussed and the enhancement of martensitic transformation temperature by Ni alloying is estimated by the calculated formation energy difference between austenite and martensite phases.