Large Magnetostriction of Fe-Ga Alloys by Solidification With a Static Magnetic Field

A simple but effective process to fabricate the bulk and practical Fe-Ga alloys at low fields is proposed just by applying a static magnetic field to their solidification process.We have introduced a static 1-T magnetic field to solidify the Fe-17%Ga alloys.The results indicate that the magnetostriction of a polycrystalline textured Fe-17%Ga alloy is increased about threefold by solidifying with a 1-T magnetic field compared to that without a magnetic field.This large magnetostiction could be attributed to the increasing volume fraction and the strong texture of the disordered a-Fe phases.The systematic analysis shows that they are originated from the undercooling and orientation effects induced by the imposed magnetic field during the solidification process.