Ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) is recently known as a new type of
magnetically driven solid state actuator material, which has large strain a
s well as a quick response to the mechanism of re-arrangement of martensite
twin by magnetic field. In this study, Fe-29.6 at%Pd alloy ribbons formed
by rapidly solidified, melt-spinning methods were studied. Samples showed s
trong anisotropy and large magnetostriction, epsilon = 600 similar to 800 x
10(-6) at nearly perpendicular direction to its plate surface (theta = 90
degrees) at room temperature. The epsilon vs. temperature, T curve had a ma
ximum at 370 similar to 400 K, then decreased steeply with increasing T, Ma
gnetization, M and applied magnetic field, H loops also showed anisotropic
behavior similar to epsilon vs, H curve. It was found that the coercive for
ce, H-c = 6.1 kA . m(-1), at theta = 90 degrees decreased steeply in the ra
nge of 293 to 320 K and then it reached to constant, 2 kA . m(-1) with T. S
ince the remarkably decrease of Hc is caused by the disappearance of the ob
stacles against magnetization, ie, martensite twin variants in the lower te
mperature phase, it is suggested that A(t) equals to about 320 K. By X-ray
diffraction analysis, the A(f) from fct to fcc is 330 K, which seems to coi
ncide with the result by the He vs. T curve. Shape memory effect vs. T curv
e had two sharp increasing points near 320 K and 400 K which correspond to
the phase transformation temperatures estimated by X-ray, Hc and epsilon, r
espectively.