A review of shape memory alloy research, applications and opportunities

In this chapter, we will restrict our attention to the ferrites and a few other closely related materials. The great interest in ferrites stems from their unique combination of a spontaneous magnetization and a high electrical resistivity. The observed magnetization results from the difference in the magnetizations of two non-equivalent sub-lattices of the magnetic ions in the crystal structure. Materials of this type should strictly be designated as “ferrimagnetic” and in some respects are more closely related to anti-ferromagnetic substances than they are to ferromagnetics in which the magnetization results from the parallel alignment of all the magnetic moments present. We shall not adhere to this special nomenclature except to emphasize effects, which are due to the existence of the sub-lattices.

Ferromagnetic materials

Large magnetic-field-induced strains1 have been observed in Heusler alloys with a body-centred cubic ordered structure and have been explained by the rearrangement of martensite structural variants due to an external magnetic field1,2,3. These materials have attracted considerable attention as potential magnetic actuator materials. Here we report the magnetic-field-induced shape recovery of a compressively deformed NiCoMnIn alloy. Stresses of over 100 MPa are generated in the material on the application of a magnetic field of 70 kOe; such stress levels are approximately 50 times larger than that generated in a previous ferromagnetic shape-memory alloy4. We observed 3 per cent deformation and almost full recovery of the original shape of the alloy. We attribute this deformation behaviour to a reverse transformation from the antiferromagnetic (or paramagnetic) martensitic to the ferromagnetic parent phase at 298 K in the Ni45Co5Mn36.7In13.3 single crystal.

Magnetic-field-induced shape recovery by reverse phase transformation.

Giant magnetic-field-induced strain of about 9.5% was observed at ambient temperature in a magnetic field of less than 1 T in NiMnGa orthorhombic seven-layered martensitic phase. The strain proved to be caused by magnetic-field-controlled twin boundary motion. According to an analysis of x-ray diffraction data, the crystal structure of this phase is nearly orthorhombic, having lattice parameters a=0.619 nm, b=0.580 nm, and c=0.553 nm (in cubic parent phase coordinates) at ambient temperature. Seven-layer shuffling-type modulation along the (110)[110]p system was recorded. The results of mechanical tests and magnetic anisotropy property measurements are also reported.

Giant magnetic-field-induced strain in NiMnGa seven-layered martensitic phase

Field-induced strains of 6% are reported in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga martensites at room temperature. The strains are the result of twin boundary motion driven largely by the Zeeman energy difference across the twin boundary. The strain measured parallel to the applied magnetic field is negative in the sample/field geometry used here. The strain saturates in fields of order 400 kA/m and is blocked by a compressive stress of order 2 MPa applied orthogonal to the magnetic field. The strain versus field curves exhibit appreciable hysteresis associated with the motion of the twin boundaries. A simple model accounts quantitatively for the dependence of strain on magnetic field and external stress using as input parameters only measured quantities.

https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1132&context=ameslab_pubs

6% magnetic-field-induced strain by twin-boundary motion in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga

Strains of nearly 0.2% have been induced along [001] in unstressed crystals of Ni2MnGa with magnetic fields of 8 kOe applied at 265 K. These stains are associated with the superelastic motion of twin boundaries in the martensitic phase that is stable below about 274 K.

Large magnetic‐field‐induced strains in Ni2MnGa single crystals

Magnetically controlled shape memory effect in Ni2MnGa intermetallics

Rare-earth/transition-metal alloys can exhibit magnetostrictive strains of order 0.17% in modest fields. Larger strains are of interest for many actuator applications. Certain alloys that undergo martensitic transformations exhibit a shape–memory effect that can yield strains up to 20% upon heating the deformed martensitic phase and they can show superelasticity upon application of a small stress. These methods of activation can be a disadvantage for many applications; magnetic activation of a shape–memory effect is desired. Several magnetic shape–memory alloys exist, among them intermetallics based on Ni2MnGa, which are the subject of this work. These materials experience a 6.6% c-axis contraction on cooling through the martensitic transition temperature, which is near 273 K; this strain is accommodated by formation of an ensemble of strained twin crystals separated by twin boundaries. Strains of several percent could be produced magnetically if the twin boundaries could be moved under application of a m...

J. K. Huang

Papers

Large magnetic‐field‐induced strains in Ni2MnGa single crystals

Magnetically controlled shape memory effect in Ni2MnGa intermetallics

Magnetic-field-induced strain in Ni2MnGa shape-memory alloy (abstract)