Magnetocaloric Heusler Alloy Composites for Fused Deposition Modeling

Abstract

The use of composites combining a thermoplastic and functional fillers for additive manufacturing (AM), as in fused deposition modeling, FDM, provides a path for low cost development of functional parts with complicated geometries [1]. Magnetic refrigeration requires refrigeration beds with intricate geometries for the passage of the heat transfer fluid. Heusler alloys exhibiting magneto-structural transformation (MST) are attracting enormous attention as they can show a large response without relying on critical elements [2]. However, machinability of these alloys is compromised, making AM attractive for the fabrication of the refrigerator beds. Off-stoichiometry Ni2MnGa Heusler powder has been obtained by ultrasonic atomization, resulting in spheric particles subsequently sieved at 100 μm (Fig. 1). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) enabled to identify the MST in the atomized Heusler alloy (Fig. 2(a)). This powder was used to fill customized PLA capsules that were used as the feedstock for the extrusion of composite filaments for FDM according to the method showed in Ref. [3]. Composite filaments were manufactured with different concentrations of fillers ranging from 30 to 64 wt. %, determined by thermogravimetric analysis, TGA, (Fig. 2(b)). As the particles were not subjected to high temperatures during the extrusion of the filaments (less than 200 °C) , the phases present in the alloy do not change. The AM of magnetocaloric parts can avoid the shape limitation and, in this case, the polymer matrix would prevent the weakening of the structure due to the successive volume changes taking place with the cyclical occurrence of an MST.Work supported by AEI/FEDER-UE (grant PID2019-105720RB-I00), US/JUNTA/FEDER-UE (grant US-1260179), Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad de la Junta de Andalucía (grant P18-RT-746), Army Research Laboratory under Cooperative Agreement Number W911NF-19-2-0212 and POB “Technologie Materialowe” of Warsaw University of Technology within the Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB) program.  Fig. 1. Scanning electron micrograph of Ni2MnGa powder.  Fig. 2. (a) DSC results of Heusler powder and (b) TGA curves of raw PLA and PLA-based composite filaments.