CRYSTAL-GROWTH OF GIANT MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TB-DY-FE ALLOY

Crystal growth of the giant magnetostrictive Tb-Dy-Fe alloy has been i nvestigated. < 112 > and < 110 > twinned 'single' crystals were obtain ed utilizing the preferred growth of the Tb-Dy-Fe alloy. The twinning could be effectively suppressed by low growth rates such as 3 mm h(-1) . With seed crystals cut from the < 112 > twinned 'single' crystal, < 111 > oriented single crystals were successfully grown. High growth ra tes such as 60 mm h(-1) induced the twinning: and a growth tilted from axial heat flow direction, and thus destroyed the twinless growth alo ng < 111 > direction. In the initial growth regions of the < 111 > cry stals, a REFe3 banded structure was usually observed. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science S.A.