Rapidly Quenched Ni45Fe5Mn40Sn10 Heusler Alloys

The present work describes the synthesis and characterization of Ni45Fe5Mn40Sn10 Heusler alloys. The constituent pure metals were melted in radio frequency induction furnace to form the alloy and then cooled it quickly. The as-cast alloy was annealed at 850 °C for 24 h in vacuum and cooled in two different conditions i.e. self-cooling at room temperature in air and sudden cooling at liquid nitrogen temperature (quenched). The X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopic techniques have been used for structural/microstructural characterization as well as chemical analysis of the material. The effect of annealing and subsequent cooling in two different conditions has been described and discussed in the context of evolution of B2 and orthorhombic martensite with lattice parameter a= 0.65 nm, b=0.59 nm and c=0.56 nm.