Recrystallization behavior and magnetostriction under pre-compressive stress of Fe–Ga–B sheets

The recrystallization behavior of the rolled Fe82.2Ga16.8B alloy sheet suggested that the material was fully recrystallized and the distribution of grain size had become quite heterogeneous after annealing at 650 °C for 1 h. The strong primary recrystallization texture {111}<110> was developed by way of the discontinuous growth of {111}<110> grains. The magnetic field paralleling to the rolling direction promoted the development of η  -fiber texture during primary recrystallization. The relation between secondary recrystallization texture and magnetostriction indicated that the cubic texture {001}<100> was obtained in secondary-recrystallized sheets, corresponding to the largest magnetostriction, and a deviation from {001}<100> texture resulted in a decrease of magnetostriction. The “jump effect” of magnetostrictive strain was obvious when the sample was subjected to compressive stress. Large magnetostrictive strains, λ//λ// of 171 ppm and λ⊥λ⊥ of −146 ppm, were observed for the annealed sheets with the thickness of 0.26 mm under 24 MPa compressive stresses.

► Fe–Ga–B sheets with good quality were successfully prepared by rolling process.
► The magnetic field promoted the development of η-fiber texture.
► Large magnetostrictive strain was achieved under compressive stresses.