Martensitic and magnetic transformations of Ni-Ga-Fe-Co ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) such as NiMnGa, FePd and FePt are attractive as a new magnetic actuator material. They show a large magnetic-field-induced strain of 3%~ 9% due to the variant rearrangement. Recently, the present authors have reported that in the Ni-Ga-Fe alloy the martensitic transformationfrom the B2 and/or the L21 structures into a seven-layer or five-layer modulated structure occurs upon cooling. In this alloy system, however, it is impossible to obtain a martensite phase at RT with a Curie temperature (T_C) higher than 100 ℃. In this work,the effects of substitution of Co for Ni on the martensitic and magnetic transformations,crystal structures and phase equilibria in Ni-Ga-Fe alloys were studied.Ni-Ga-Fe-Co alloys were prepared by induction melting under an argon atmosphere.Small pieces of specimens were taken from the ingot and homogenized at 1433 K for 24 h followed by quenching in water. The obtained specimens were aged at 773 K for 24 h and then quenched. The compositions of each phase were determined by energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The martensitic transformation temperatures and T_C were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurement. The crystal structure of martensite phase was observed by X-ray diffractmeter (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).The Curie temperature T_C was increased with increasing Co content while the martensitic transformation temperature slightly decreased. In the Ni_~(54-x) Ga_~27 Fe_~19 Co_x ,T_C increases from 303 K to 408 K with increasing Co content from x=0 to x=6. The crystal structure of the martensite phase and the phase equiribria in the Ni-Fe-Ga-Co alloys will be also presented.