Texture evolution of Terfenol-D by solidification in a magnetic field

The orientation of crystals of the giant magnetostrictive compound Terfenol-D solidified in a static magnetic field has been investigated. When the melt with size ϕ16×18mm2 solidifies slowly in a static magnetic field of 140mT, texture of the samples appears and the easy magnetization axis of the polycrystal tends to align towards the magnetic field gradually. ⟨111⟩ texture of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.9 alloy is dominant in the sample solidified at a cooling rate of about 0.8°C∕min. These experimental results show that on the condition of slow cooling in the presence of a static magnetic field, free crystal nuclei of these materials in high temperature melt are easily be induced and aligned with their easy magnetic axes along the field at the beginning of the solidification.