The preparation, microstructures and magnetostrictive properties of Samfenol-D

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 366; no. 1; pp. 241 - 247
• Main Authors: Xie, J.W., Fort, D., Abell, J.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 10.03.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic measurements; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects, magnetostriction; Magnetostriction; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; Physics; Rare earth compounds; Solidification; Transition metal compounds; Magnetic measurements; Transition metal compounds; Magnetostriction; Rare earth compounds; Scanning electron microscopy; Samarium alloys; Annealing; Magnetomechanical effects; Ternary alloys; Iron alloys; XRD; Experimental study; Materials preparation; Dysprosium alloys; Arc furnaces; Rare earth alloys; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-8388(03)00668-6

A high-pressure arc furnace has been used to prepare button- and rod-shaped samples of Sm 0.86Dy 0.14Fe y alloys. Sm losses as a result of volatilisation during melting were found to be lower than those encountered when using conventional arc melting techniques, while higher arc currents could be employed leading to more effective melting. The effects of annealing on the microstructures and the magnetomechanical coupling factor, k 33, have also been investigated. X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that annealing samples at 850 °C under vacuum for periods up to 10 h gives a pseudo-single phase microstructure. A double partial zoning technique, followed by annealing, was devised to prepare rod samples with high magnetomechanical coupling factors.