| Abstract Scope |
Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) exhibit maximum functionality (6-10% magnetic-field-induced-strain) due to the minimization of grain boundaries and impurities that would otherwise impinge twin boundaries and inhibit the magnetic shape memory effect. With increasing research in additive manufacturing of Ni-Mn-Ga, these alloys are now exposed to high temperatures (800-1100 °C) for sintering and grain growth heat-treatments (binder and laser-based printing, respectively). However, these thermal exposures of the near-stoichiometric Ni2MnGa have reported inconsistent results likely due to oxidation and/or the presence of carbon (binder jet printing), which causes compositional variations and lack of densification. This study aims to describe and compare the effect of composition (Mn = 27, 29 at. %), heat-treatment times (0.5, 4 h) and atmospheres (vacuum, Mn/MnO, Ni/NiO, air, and carbon containing) on the oxidation behavior of Ni-Mn-Ga, with the objective of better informing manufacturing routes of these MSMAs. |