Enhanced metamagnetic shape memory effect in Heusler-type Ni37Co11Mn43Sn9 polycrystalline ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

Polycrystalline Ni-Co-Mn-Sn based ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) show promise as actuator materials, but their practical application involving magnetic field induced strain (MFIS) is often limited by three factors: the requirement for high magnetic fields (> 5 T), martensitic transition temperature away from room temperature, and limited recovery of pre-strain applied to the martensite phase. Current work investigates the martensitic transition and shape memory effect under the application of magnetic field for bulk polycrystalline Ni37Co11Mn43Sn9 alloy. The outcome of the study reveals a metamagnetic transition from the martensitic phase to the austenitic phase at a low field of 2.8 T at 300 K which results 0.25 % spontaneous MFIS. Interestingly, 1.3 % pre-strained specimen registers a 100 % recovery with the application of magnetic field of 4.5 T. Furthermore, the pre-strained specimen exhibited a two-way shape memory effect between a strain value of 1.0 % to 1.55 % during the field loading and unloading sequences. Notably, this study demonstrates, for the first time to the best of our knowledge that the spontaneous MFIS and pre-strain add together. This finding paves the way for achieving a giant MFIS by pre-straining a Ni-Mn-Sn/In class of FSMAs which shows large spontaneous MFIS.