In-Situ Study of Temperature- and Magnetic-Field-Induced Incomplete Martensitic Transformation in Fe-Mn-Ga

Abstract

Significant interest in the stoichiometric and off-stoichiometric Fe2MnGa alloys is based on their complex phase transition behavior and potential application. In this study, temperature- and magnetic-field-induced phase transformations in the Fe41.5Mn28Ga30.5 magnetic shape memory alloy were investigated by in situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction and in situ neutron diffraction techniques. It was found that incomplete phase transformation and phase coexistence behavior are always observed while applying and removing fields in Fe41.5Mn28Ga30.5. Typically, even at 4 K and under 0 T, or increasing the magnetic field to 11 T at 250 K, it can be directly detected that the martensite and austenite are in competition, making the phase transition incomplete. TEM observations at 300 K and 150 K indicate that the anti-phase boundaries and B2 precipitates may lead to field-induced incomplete phase transformation behavior collectively. The present study may enrich the understanding of field-induced martensitic transformation in the Fe-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloys.