The way composition affects martensitic transformation temperatures of Ni–Mn–Ga Heusler alloys

Abstract

AbstractA systematic substitution of Ge, Si, C and Co for Ga in the non‐stoichiometric Ni–Mn–Ga alloys was performed. The relationship between the compositions of different elements including Ni, Mn, Ga, Ge, Si, C, Co, In and martensitic transformation temperature (Ms) was studied in detail for the present alloys together with data collected from a variety of sources. It is found that Ms is a sensitive parameter to the composition. The size factor and electron concentration are usually thought to be the way the composition influences Ms in the Ni–Mn–Ga alloys. Here, analyzing by linear regression, the electron density maybe a most appropriate parameter to describe the way the composition influences Ms when compared with size factor and electron concentration. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)