Sensors, Actuators and Micro-Electromechanical Devices using High Magnetostriction, High Strength Iron-Gallium Alloys

Magnetostrictive materials exhibit reversible strains and changes in elastic properties in the presence of an applied magnetic field. Novel Iron (Fe) � Gallium (Ga) alloys have been developed with large magnetostriction that are based on low cost Iron and inexpensive processing. Large magnetostriction was observed in these alloys at Ga contents of 15, 20 and 27.5 weight percent Gallium. This technology provides lower cost alloys with both high magnetostriction and high strength and used for operation at low fields.

Benefits
There is a necessity for tough, magnetostrictive materials and these have immense military and commercial potential. Common metals, such as iron, iron alloys and steels, possess good mechanical properties, but have very low magnetostrictions. Other high magnetostrictive materials (e.g. Terfenol) are brittle and don�t have the ability to withstand shock. This technology bridges the gap by providing a highly magnetostrictive material that is shock resistant, requires low field, and has good physical strength.

Stage of Development
US Patent Application Publication: US 2003/0010405A1.
This technology has been demonstrated to work in proof-of-concept experiments. It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Additional Info
*Srisukhumbowornchai, N., Guruswamy, S. Large magnetostriction in directionally solidified FeGa and FeGaAl alloys. Journal of Applied Physics, 90 (11), 2001, p 5680
*Guruswamy, S., Srisukhumbowornchai, N., Clark, A. E., Restorff, J. B., Wun-Fogle, M. Storng, ductile, and low-field-magnetostrictive alloys based on Fe-Ga. Scripta mater, 43, 2000, p 239-244

Inventor(s): Nakorn Srisukhumbowornchai, Sivaraman Guruswamy

Type of Offer: Licensing



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