Martensite and nanocrystalline phase formation in rapidly solidified Ni<inf>2</inf>MnGa alloy by melt-spinning

Microstructure of rapidly solidified Ni2MnGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy has been investigated experimentally by melt-spinning technique. At a constant ribbon width of 3 mm, two speeds of melt spinning 17m/sec and 30m/sec at the extrema of conditions for a good quality of ribbon resulted in two thicknesses of the ribbon, viz., 62 μm and 44 μm, respectively. TEM and AFM analysis reveals the formation of very fine clusters of Ni 2MnGa at lower wheel speeds. However at higher wheel speeds nanocrystalline Ni2MnGa particles of size about 10-20 nm and martensitic phases were confirmed. © (2010) Trans Tech Publications.