Magneto-structural transformations in Ni50Mn37.5Sn12.5−xInx Heusler powders

•Vibration milling of ribbons allows to obtain angular powders of size 10–50 μm.•Vibration milling improves chemical homogeneity of alloys.•Indium addition changes the magneto-structural transformations in Ni–Mn–Sn–In alloys.•Complex character of magneto-structural transformations is visible.•Multistep martensitic transformation occurs in powders.

The effect of ball milling and subsequently annealing of melt spun ribbons on magneto-structural transformations in Ni50Mn37.5Sn12.5−xInx (x=0, 2, 4, 6) ribbons is presented. Short time vibration milling allows to obtain chemically homogenous powders of angular particle shapes and size within 10–50 μm. Milling does not change the characteristic temperatures of martensitic transformation in comparison to the melt spun ribbons. The effect of In substitution for Sn on martensitic transformation has a complex mechanism, associated with electron density change. Substitution of Sn by In in both milled and annealed powders leads to decrease of Curie temperature of austenite and increase of martensitic transformation temperature, stabilizing martensitic phase. The coexistence of magnetic transformation of austenite and martensitic transformation at low magnetic field was observed. The intermartensitic transformation of 4O martensite to L10 martensite was observed during cooling at low magnetic field and this was confirmed by TEM microstructure observations. The annealing process of as-milled powders leads to the change of their martensitic structure due to relaxation of internal stresses associated with anisotropic columnar grain microstructure formed during melt spinning process. The level of stresses introduced during milling of ribbons has no significant influence on martensitic transformation. The annealing process of as milled powders leads to enhancement of their magnetic properties, decrease of Curie temperature of austenite, and marginal change of temperature of martenisitic transformation.