Development of < 100 > crystallographic texture in magnetostrictive Fe-Ga wires using a modified Taylor wire method

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 42; no. 13; pp. 135005p1 - 135005p7
• Main Authors: Farrell, S P, Quigley, P E, Avery, K J, Hatchard, T D, Flynn, S E, Dunlap, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 07.07.2009
• ISSN: 0022-3727
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/42/13/135005

Magnetostrictive Fe-Ga wires 1-3 mm in diameter have been prepared using an innovative cost-effective approach based on the Taylor wire method that couples the advantages of high-temperature directional solidification and selective grain growth. Strict control of drawing processes has been shown to enable the introduction of desirable texture that is critical for achieving large magnetostriction in these polycrystalline Fe-Ga alloys. The procedure for fabricating highly textured (100) magnetostrictive wires is discussed and the wires are evaluated in terms of microstructure and crystallographic texture. Magnetostriction measurements, in the absence of pre-stress and stress-annealing treatments, indicated a maximum magnetostriction of 170 ppm in a saturation field less than 60 mT. A mechanism for texture evolution is proposed. It is speculated that the resultant (100) texture of the Fe-Ga wires is due to directional solidification and abnormal grain growth resulting from surface effects. The unique properties of wires made with the Taylor-based approach coupled with the low fabrication cost make this an attractive approach for the production of Fe-Ga wire with a specific crystallographic texture.