Chapter 5 - Device Application Examples

Abstract

The chapter discusses the background, functional principles, design aspects, and technical and commercial potential of some of the applications of magnetostrictive materials. Some potential applications of magnetostrictive materials include sound and vibration sources, sonar systems, underwater information exchange, and mechanical impact actuators. Affecting material processing by means of magnetostrictive technology in principle can be performed by direct interaction or indirectly by means of sound penetration. The majority of magnetostrictive actuator applications to material processing are based on a high-intensity sound or vibration penetration into the treated material. The frequency used depends on the process. All magnetostrictive materials have the ability to convert magnetic energy to mechanical energy. In principle, this feature can be used in displacement or force sensors. Despite the huge strain of highly magnetostrictive materials, they are seldom used in sensor applications because a high coupling factor rather than an absolute strain is important. The three processes in the widespread commercial use that benefit from the high-frequency high-power features of magnetostrictive actuators are ultrasonic cleaning, sonic cell disruption for analytical purposes, and material bonding (welding).