Suppression of γ phase in Ni38Co12Mn41Sn9 alloy by melt spinning and its effect on martensitic transformation and magnetic properties

Microstructure, martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of melt-spun Ni38Co12Mn41Sn9 ribbon were investigated and compared with its bulk counterpart. The formation of second phase (γ phase) was prevented by melt spinning. Ni38Co12Mn41Sn9 ribbon underwent a thermoelastic martensitic transformation at a little higher temperature than the master alloy. Due to the disappearance of γ phase, the magnetic properties of as-spun ribbon in the plane was close to its bulk counterpart. A magnetic-field-induced reverse martensitic transformation was verified in this ribbon under a relatively low magnetic field of 1.5 T. In addition, the kinetic arrest behavior was also observed even though there still existed a forward martensitic transformation when applying a magnetic field of 8 T.