Effects of Annealing on the Martensitic Transformation of Ni-Based Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Heusler Alloys and Nanoparticles

We report on the effects of annealing on the martensitic phase transformation in the Ni-based Heusler system: Mn50Ni40Sn10 and Mn50Ni41Sn9 powder and Co50Ni21Ga32 nanoparticles. For the powdered Mn50Ni40Sn10 and Mn50Ni41Sn9 alloys, structural and magnetic measurements reveal that post-annealing decreases the martensitic transformation temperatures and increases the transition hysteresis. This might be associated with a release of stress in the Mn50Ni40Sn10 and Mn50Ni41Sn9 alloys during the annealing process. However, in the case of Co50Ni21Ga32 nanoparticles, a reverse phenomenon is observed. X-ray diffraction analysis results reveal that the as-prepared Co50Ni21Ga32 nanoparticles do not show a martensitic phase at room temperature. Post-annealing followed by ice quenching, however, is found to trigger the formation of the martensitic phase. The presence of the martensitic transition is attributed to annealing-induced particle growth and the stress introduced during quenching.