Martensitic transitions and the nature of ferromagnetism in the austenitic and martensitic states of Ni-Mn-Sn alloys -: art. no. 014412

Structural and magnetic transformations in the Heusler-based system Ni0.50Mn0.50-xSnx are studied by x-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and magnetization. The structural transformations are of austenitic-martensitic character. The austenite state has an L2(1) structure, whereas the structures of the martensite can be 10M, 14M, or L1(0) depending on the Sn composition. For samples that undergo martensitic transformations below and around room temperature, it is observed that the magnetic exchange in both parent and product phases is ferromagnetic, but the ferromagnetic exchange, characteristic of each phase, is found to be of different strength. This gives rise to different Curie temperatures for the austenitic and martensitic states.