Magnetoelastic effects in rare-earth iron-aluminum compounds

Abstract

Magnetic and magnetoelastic measurements under various conditions of compressive stress and applied field have been carried out on samples with the composition Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe1−xAlx)1.95, 0≤x≤0.1, prepared by a float-zone growth technique. Their magnetoelastic performances compare favorably with the highly magnetostrictive ‘‘Terfenol-D’’ compounds by having large magnetostrictive strains (λ∼1200 ppm at ∼120 kA/m), good magnetomechanical coupling (k33≊62%) and a large strain coefficient (d33≊80 nm/A). The substitution of aluminum for iron produces a material with potential benefits for use in actuators: higher electrical resistivity and improved ductility, which reduce eddy current effects and increase the mechanical strength.