Magnetostriction of growth textured Tb-Zn alloys

The magnetostrictive performance of aligned microstructural composites of T b-Zn alloys were experimentally tested at 77 K under compressive loads rang ing from approximately 0-50 MPa and applied magnetic field up to 2000 Oe. T b-8a/oZn, Tb-42a/oZn and the eutectic composition of Tb-27.8a/oZn were all directionally solidified to prepare aligned, textured microstructures. The eutectic sample grew with lamellar plates with the magnetically hard axes f or each phase parallel with the rod axis and exhibited a strain of less tha n 100 ppm. The Tb-42a/oZn alloy solidified with TbZn dendrites in the magne tically hard [111] direction and exhibited a strain of 375 ppm. The Tb-8a/o Zn alloy solidified pure Tb dendrites in the magnetically easy direction, t he b-axis, yet it only displayed a 350-ppm magnetostriction at a maximum fi eld of 2000 Oe due to the high anisotropy of the Tb dendrites. (C) 1999 Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.