Phase structure and magnetostriction of Fe₈₁Ga₁₉ melt-spun ribbons

Fe₈₁Ga₁₉ alloy ribbons were prepared by melt-spinning. The phase structure and magnetostriction of ribbon samples were investigated by XRD and M-TG. The results show that the matrix of Fe₈₁Ga₁₉ ribbons was disordered Fe(Ga) solid solution, accompanied with a small amount of the second phase maintaining an unsymmetrical DO₃ structure. The [100] preferred orientation was formed along the thickness direction. The maximum magnetostricton of -1830×10^-6 was obtained when the magnetic field was applied normal to the ribbon plane. The shape anisotropy of ribbons, the unsymmetrical DO₃ structure and the [100] preferred orientation are suggested to be responsible for the giant magnetostriction.