Effects of high magnetic fields on the crystal orientation and magnetostriction of a TbFe2 based alloy during treatment in the semi-solid state

• We present the change of the crystal orientation and magnetostriction of TbFe2 based alloy during treatment in the semi-solid state in high magnetic fields.
• Orientation of the TbFe2 phase undergoes a transformation of 〈1 1 3〉 to 〈1 1 1〉 to 〈1 1 0〉 with increasing magnetic flux density.
• Magnetostrictive property is slightly lowered at 4.4 T, but strongly enhanced at 8.8 T and 11.5 T.

A TbFe2 based alloy was treated in the semi-solid state under high magnetic fields of 0 T, 4.4 T, 8.8 T and 11.5 T. The effects of high magnetic fields on crystal orientation, magnetization and magnetostriction of the alloys were investigated. We found that with an increase in the magnetic flux density from 0 T to 11.5 T the orientation of the TbFe2 phase experienced a transformation from 〈1 1 3〉 to 〈1 1 1〉 to 〈1 1 0〉. The alloy treated at 8.8 T showed magnetic anisotropic behavior, while the alloys treated at 0 T, 4.4 T and 11.5 T showed magnetic isotropic behavior. Compared with the alloy treated at 0 T, the magnetostrictive property was slightly lower at 4.4 T, but significantly higher at 8.8 T and 11.5 T. The change in magnetostrictive property comes from the evolution of TbFe2 crystal orientation.