Magnetic and mechanical properties of FeNiCoTi magnetic shape memory alloy

FeNiCoTi is a promising candidate to show the magnetic shape memory (MSM) e ffect in an alloy with a high saturation magnetization and low cost. Materi al properties in this alloy can be controlled through both composition and heat treatment, and the effects of both have been studied. The effects of N i3Ti precipitation are explored by subjecting samples to a range aging trea tments to control the size and number of precipitates. Ni3Ti precipitates a ffect martensite transitions and mechanical properties. Samples of various compositions and heat treatments have been tested for microstructural, magn etic, and mechanical properties. Aging treatments have been shown to raise the martensite temperature by as much as 100 degrees C. The phase transform ation from austenite to martensite was shown to raise the saturation magnet ization from 100 to 150 emu/g. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights re served.