Magnetic and structural anisotropic properties of magnetostrictive Fe-Ga flake particles and their epoxy-bonded composites

Abstract Flake shaped particles of grain-oriented Fe80Ga20 and Fe73Ga27 alloys were prepared using a high-energy wet ball-milling process. The surface of flakes produced were predominantly parallel to the (1 0 0) crystallographic plane in flakes. These flakes possess two in-plane 〈1 0 0〉 easy axes of magnetization, which enhances magnetostrictive performance and sensitivity for use in composite materials. The deformation mechanism leading to formation of (1 0 0) grain-oriented flakes is associated with small angel crystal reorientations along slip lines similar to what occurs during rolling. Data are presented on the in-plane magnetic properties of these flakes, which were characterized using field-dependent magnetization measurements. The epoxy-bonded composites with the particle alignment exhibited high magnetostriction values of ∼103 ppm.