Martensitic transformation and shape memory effect in ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Ni2FeGa

We have synthesized ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Ni2FeGa using the melt-spinning technique. The Ni2FeGa ribbon, having a high chemical ordering L2(1) structure, exhibits a thermoelastic martensitic transformation from cubic to orthorhombic structure at 142 K and a premartensitic transformation. The alloy has a relatively high Curie temperature of 430 K, a magnetization of 73 Am2/kg, and a low saturated field of 0.6 T. The textured samples with preferentially oriented grains show a completely recoverable two-way shape memory effect with a strain of 0.3% upon the thermoelastic martensitic transformation. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.