Influence of plastic deformation on the magnetostrictive behavior of [126]-oriented Fe–Ga alloy single crystals

Abstract

Dislocation arrays were introduced through controlled deformation of Fe–20 at. % Ga alloy single crystal samples with ⟨100⟩ and ⟨126⟩ orientations. Alloy single crystals were obtained through vertical Bridgman growth process. Magnetostriction measurements show a large decrease in magnetostriction after deforming just past the yield point when only a single slip system is operative as in the case of [126]-oriented crystal deformation. Magnetostriction values showed a much lower decrease with deformation for the case of [100]-oriented crystal deformation, where eight different slip systems were operative and consequently eight different sets of dislocation arrays are expected. The results suggest that the nature of strain modulation introduced by the dislocation arrays has a strong influence on the magnetostrictive behavior of magnetostrictive alloys.