The microstructure of Fe–Ga powders and magnetostriction of bonded composites

Spherical Fe-Ga particles were prepared by gas atomization. The Ga concentration of gas-atomized particles approached the nominal composition of Fe81Ga19. Most size fractions of particles had a polycrystalline structure. The main A2 phase and a DO3 phase emerged in the as-atomized powders. The L1(2) phase appeared in the annealed powders. Many single crystals were obtained due to grain growth during the thermal process. The maximum saturation magnetostriction of 6.4 x 10(-5) was obtained in the composite containing the annealed powders. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.