Grain size effects on magnetomechanical damping properties of ferromagnetic Fe-5 wt.% Al alloy

Abstract

To clarify the effects of grain size on the damping capacity of a ferromagnetic Fe-5 wt.% Al alloy with an average grain size of 130-845 mu m, the magnetomechanical properties and microstructures were studied. The results showed a maximum damping capacity at a certain average grain size. Thus, it was proposed that the damping capacity is proportional to the total area of the 90 degrees domain walls represented by the mean 90 degrees domain width and the saturation magnetostriction. It can be reasonably explained that with grain growth, the saturation magnetostriction increases and the total area decreases. Leading to the result of a maximum damping capacity at a certain average grain size where the best combination of the two factors was found. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.