Composite magnetostrictive materials for advanced automotive magnetomechanical sensors

In this paper we present the development of a composite magnetostrictive material for automotive applications. The material is based on cobalt ferrite, CoO . Fe2O3, and contains a small fraction of metallic matrix phase that serves both as a liquid-phase sintering aid during processing and enhances the mechanical properties over those of a simple sintered ferrite ceramic. In addition the metal matrix makes it possible to braze the material, making the assembly of a sensor relatively simple. The material exhibits good sensitivity and should have high corrosion resistance, while at the same time it is low in cost. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.