Effect of yttrium on the mechanical and magnetostrictive properties of Fe83Ga17 alloy

Polycrystalline rod samples of (Fe83Ga17)(100-x)Y-x (x=0, 0.16, 0.32, 0.48, 0.64) were prepared by induction melting under argon atmosphere. Effect of yttrium on the mechanical and magnetostrictive properties of Fe83Ga17 alloy was investigated. Small amount of yttrium (0.16 at.%) increased the tensile strength of as-cast Fe83Ga17 alloys to 674 MPa and improved the ductility with elongation of 4.2% at room temperature. The Y2Fe17-xGax (6 <= x <= 7) phase was formed in the Y-doped Fe83Ga17 alloy since yttrium was hardly dissolved into the alpha-Fe lattice. Y-2(FeGa)(17) secondary phase dispersed along the grain boundaries and inside the grains played an important role for the enhancement of mechanical property. The 0.64 at.% Y-doped alloy had magnetostriction of 133 ppm, which was thought to be associated with the alteration of the grain shape and < 100 > preferential orientation along the axial direction of rods.