Microstructure and Magnetostriction of Fe83Ga17R0.6(R=Ce,Tb, Dy) Alloys

In order to improve magnetostrictive properties of the polycrystalline Fe-Ga alloys, rare earth elements Ce, Tb and Dy were doped into Fe-Ga alloys. The microstructures and magnetostrictions of Fe83Ga17 and Fe83Ga17R0.6 (R=Ce, Tb, Dy) alloys were studied. The results indicate that Fe83Ga17 alloy consists of a single Fe(Ga) solid solution phase with bcc structure. However, the Fe83Ga17R0.6(R=Ce, Tb, Dy) alloys are composed of the Fe(Ga) solid solution phase and a small amount of R2Fe17 secondary phase. The magnetostriction coefficients of the Fe83Ga17R0.6(R=Ce, Tb, Dy) alloys are significantly larger than that of the Fe83Ga17 alloy. The improvement degree of magnetostrictive properties of Fe-Ga alloy varies with different rare earth elements doped into the alloy. The magnetostriction coefficient of Fe83Ga17Ce0.6 alloy (206x10(-6)) is larger than that of the Fe83Ga17Tb0.6 (165x10(-6)) and Fe83Ga17Dy0.6 (161x10(-6)) at the magnetic field of 557 kA/m.