Phase evolution and properties of Ni<inf>50</inf>Co<inf>23</inf>Fe <inf>2</inf>Ga<inf>25</inf> Heusler alloy undercooled by electromagnetic levitation

Microstructure and properties of bulk samples of Ni50Co 23Fe2Ga25 Heusler alloy undercooled and solidified in an electromagnetic levitation facility have been studied. Microstructure characterization showed the samples to consist of a mixture of fcc phase and non-modulated tetragonal martensite phase at low undercoolings and a single phase microstructure containing only martensite at high undercooling. The fcc phase content increases with undercooling up to 170 K and then disappears at undercooling above 200 K. Hardness and magnetization correlate differently with the phase content of the sample. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.