Influence of Shape Anisotropy and Temperature on Magnetostrictive Behavior in Single-Crystal Galfenol Alloys

Abstract

Fe-Ga (Galfenol) is a rare-earth-free alloy with useful magnetostrictive properties of nominal cost and robust mechanical properties advantageous for sensing, actuating, and energy harvesting. Understanding magnetostriction and magnetization behaviors under stress while at temperatures up to +250 °C is needed to explore the potential of harsh environment applications for magnetostrictive non-contact sensors, for use in applications such as monitoring torque changes in engines and rotorcraft shafts. Galfenol thin patches have the potential to operate in these applications, but alloy performance at these temperatures while under stress has not been studied. Thus, in this paper, we investigate simultaneous effects of temperature and compressive stresses on magnetic and magnetostrictive behaviors of single crystal Fe-Ga samples at temperatures from +25 °C to +250 °C while under compressive stresses of 0, 15, and 23 MPa. The samples are also subjected to temperatures up to +250 °C and no stress to acquire simultaneous magnetostriction and magnetization values. Building upon this experimental data, this paper attempts to relate temperature dependence and shape anisotropy to determine the effect on magnetic susceptibility at elevated temperatures. Understanding the roles of temperature and compressive stress as well as shape anisotropy on magnetostrictive, Fe-Ga alloys can provide an advanced understanding of the material properties and thus facilitate their use in a wider range of applications.