Martensitic Transformation, Thermal Analysis and Magnetocaloric Properties of Ni-Mn-Sn-Pd Alloys

Martensitic transition and magnetic response of Ni50−x Pdx,y Mn36 Sn14−y (x = 0, 1, 2 and y = 0, 1) Heusler alloys were analysed. The crystalline structure of each composition was solved by X-ray diffraction pattern fitting. For x = 1 and 2, the L21 austenite structure is formed and, for y = 1, the crystallographic phase is a modulated martensitic structure. From differential scanning calorimetry scans, we determine characteristic transformation temperatures and the entropy/enthalpy changes. The temperatures of the structural transformation increase with the addition of Pd to replace Ni or Sn, whereas the austenitic Curie temperature remains almost unvarying. In addition, the magneto-structural transition, investigated by magnetic measurements, is adjusted by suitable Pd doping in the alloys. The peak value of the magnetic entropy changes reached 4.5 J/(kg K) for Ni50Mn36Sn13Pd1 (external field: 50 kOe).This research was funded by MINECO grant MAT2016-75967-P and UdG grant PONT2020/01

Thermal and Structural Analysis of Mn49.3Ni43.7Sn7.0 Heusler Alloy Ribbons

The martensitic transformation and the solidification structures of Mn49.3Ni43.7Sn7.0 alloy ribbons prepared by melt-spinning were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. In those experiments special attention was given to melt spinning processing parameters such as the linear surface speed of the copper wheel rotating, the injection overpressure and the distance between wheel and injection quartz tube. Transformation entropy was found higher when increasing linear surface speed or the distance from injection point to wheel. The resulting samples showed chemical compositions close to the nominal ones and, at room temperature, crystallized in a monoclinic single-phase martensite with 14M modulation (without a significant variation in the cell parameters). Strong dependence of ribbon thickness on processing parameters was found. The average grain size varied between 1.6 and 6.6 μm, while the start temperature of the martensitic temperature varied from 394 to 430 K