Structure and magnetostriction in Nd0.25Tb0.3Dy0.45 (Fe0.9B0.1)1.93 compound

We investigate the structural, magnetic, and magnetostrictive properties of a Nd-containing Nd _0.25Tb _0.3Dy _0.45(Fe _0.9B _0.1) _1.93 (NTDFB) alloy. X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction analyses reveal that NTDFB exhibits a homogeneous Laves phase, contrasting with the multiphase nature of the boron-free counterpart. At room temperature, the spontaneous and saturation magnetostrictions of NTDFB are 2094 ppm and 1447 ppm, respectively, representing enhancements of 15.9 % and 29.5 % compared to boron-free samples. Another intriguing finding is that the introduction of Nd effectively alters the spin reorientation temperature of Terfenol-D (Tb _0.3Dy _0.7Fe _1.93) and narrows the temperature span of easy magnetic direction (EMD) along < 100 > . NTDFB undergoes two spin reorientations, with the EMD transitioning from < 111 > to < 100 > at T _SR1 173 K and from < 100 > to < 110 > at T _SR2 92 K, contrasting with T _SR1 245 K and T _SR2 25 K of Terfenol-D. Additionally, the introduction of Nd into Terfenol-D effectively increases its magnetostriction coefficient, λ ₁₁₀ and λ ₁₀₀. As a result, NTDFB, with a raw material cost 80 % that of Terfenol-D, exhibits magnetostriction values exceeding 1000 ppm from 300 to 20 K, indicating its cost-effectiveness and promising potential as a magnetostrictive alloy.