Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Rapid-solidification method was applied to make Fe-15at%Ga and Fe-17at%Ga ribbons of 100 μm thickness. These ribbons have large magnetostriction of 270 ppm, where the coercive force exhibits a maximum value. The phenomenon is related to special metallic texture, that is, the ribbon has strongly [001]-oriented textured fine columnar microstructure with grain size of 2∼5 μm. The ribbon has little-hysteresis loop of magnetostriction and a good ductility (i.e., full bending is possible). Rapid-solidified Fe-Ga alloy has a promising possibility as a new magnetic-induced sensor/actuator material.