Temperature and field induced strain in polycrystalline Ni 50Mn35In15-xSix magnetic shape memory Heusler alloys

Magnetic shape memory properties of polycrystalline Ni50Mn 35In15-xSix were investigated. A reversible strain of more than 0.4% was observed for x = 0 at a magnetic field H = 5 T that was found to be associated with a field induced reverse martensitic transformation. The strains were found to increase with the substitution of In by Si and strains larger than 1% were observed for x = 2 at H = 5 T. Both the positive and negative strain changes were observed in the vicinity of martensitic transition temperatures. The strain in Ni50Mn 35In15-xSix was found to depend on silicon concentration, and on samples texture. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved