Rare earth-iron magnetostrictive materials and devices using these materials

A grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.80.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x<1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.90, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.80, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein x+y+z=1, and wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x<1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.40, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein x+y+z=1, and wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula TB.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.20.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.80.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w where 0.1.ltoreq.x<1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.90, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.80, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, x+y+z=1 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x<1.0, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.40, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, x+y+z=1 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.20.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

The transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.80.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having an magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x<1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.90, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.80, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein x+y+z=1, and wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magentic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a grain-oriented polycrystalline rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.40, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, wherein x+y+z=1, and wherein the grains of the material have their common principal axes substantially pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.20.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree.0 of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.10.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Dy.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.80.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.1-x Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00 and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Tb.sub.x Ho.sub.Y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.00, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.90, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.80, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, x+y+z=1 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.

A transducer for converting magnetic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa having a magnetostrictive element comprising:

• a single crystal rare earth-iron magnetostrictive material of the formula Sm.sub.x Ho.sub.y Dy.sub.z Fe.sub.2-w wherein 0.60.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.0, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.40, and 0.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.20, x+y+z=1 having angle grain boundaries of less than 5.degree., wherein the principal axis of the Laves phase is pointed along the growth axis of the material which is within 10.degree. of the .lambda..sub.111 axis.