Development of MSMA-Driven Actuators based on Standardization of Single Crystal Growth, Treatment and Quality Assessment

• Applicant: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Annika Raatz
• Subject Area: Materials Science
• Term: from 2006 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 28293696

During the last decade the magnetic shape memory (MSM) effect of Ni-Mn-Ga single crystals was intensely studied by numerous groups all over the world. Today many aspects of this phenomenon have been documented. Still, there is little consistency in the published results, since the documentation of crystal growth and treatments is generally poor and therefore the crystals differ. For commercial applications reliability and repeatability of the MSM actuating behavior are significant. Based on the standardization of crystal growth, thermal treatment, training procedures and quality assessment the HMI and the IWF will develop actuator components in the field of handling technologies. Because of the availability of high quality Ni-Mn-Ga crystals, this class of magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMA) will play the key role within the first part of this project. Nevertheless, the new crystal growth technique SLARE , recently developed at HMI, will be adopted and finetuned for other promising alloys like Co-Ni-Ga and Cu-Mn-Ga in parallel. The study of life-time and fatigue behavior in conjunction with structural, magnetical and mechanical characterizations will result in quality assessment tools. In consideration of these fundamental studies efficient actuators, handling devices and control concepts based thereon will be developed and characterized. Finally the long-run behavior of theses devices will be tested in real operation.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1239: Modification of Microstructure and Shape of Solid Materials by External Magnetic Fields
• Participating Person: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Hesselbach