Unidirectional solidification of TbFe2 alloy using magnetic field in microgravity

Unidirectional solidification experiments of TbFe2 alloy using a static mag netic field in microgravity were performed in the Japan Microgravity Center . When the magnetic field strength was increased from 0 to 4.5 x 10(-2) T d uring unidirectional solidification in microgravity, a [111] crystallograph ic alignment of the grains dominated, and the maximum magnetostriction cons tant increased from 1000 to 4000 ppm. For unidirectional solidification in normal gravity, the maximum magnetostriction constant remained at 2000 ppm with increasing of magnetic field. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.