Fe-Pd-X Thin Film-Polymer Composites for Sensor Applications - Development of new miniaturized sensors using composites of ferromagnetic shape memory thin films and polymers

This project is part of a collaboration package proposal aiming at new Fe-Pd-X ferromagnetic magnetic shape memory alloy (FMSMA) thin films for sensor applications. In the past 10 years FMSMAs received attention as actuator materials on account of their large magnetically induced strains. Sensor applications were not pursued. However, those are very attractive and form the subject of this proposal.The proposal describes the use of FMSMA thin film/polymer composites as mechanical sensors that are uniquely suited for the large strains present in polymers. FMSMAs are equally promising as the magnetostrictive component in composite magnetoelectric magnetic field sensors. Since the mechanical impedance of these composites must be matched their development will additionally benefit from the low elastic constants of FePd FSMAs. A third advantage of Fe-Pd based materials is their higher blocking stress in comparison to Ni-Mn-Ga.The performance of both mechanical and magnetic sensors will be enhanced through their large magnetostrictive strains, ¿, and especially the large strain derivative with respect to the magnetic field, ¿¿/¿¿ that gives rise to a large sensitivity. In combination these two characteristics result in a very wide dynamic range for both sensors.

DFG-Verfahren Schwerpunktprogramme

Teilprojekt zu SPP 1239:  Änderung von Mikrostruktur und Form fester Werkstoffe durch äußere Magnetfelder