Open Access
Room temperature huge magnetocaloric properties in low hysteresis ordered Cu-doped Ni-Mn-In-Co alloys
(Elsevier, 2022) La Roca, Paulo Matías; López García, Javier; Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Rodríguez Velamazán, José Alberto; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PC017–018 AMELEC
The reduction of the thermal hysteresis in first order magnetostructural transition is a determining factor to decrease energy losses and to improve the efficiency of magnetocaloric cooling based systems. In this work, a Cu doped NiMnInCo metamagnetic shape memory alloy (MMSMA) exhibiting a narrow thermal hysteresis (around 5 K) at room temperature has been designed. In this alloy, the induced L21 ordering process affects the phase stability in an unusual way compared to that observed in NiMnInCo and other NiMn based alloys. This ordering produces an increase in the Curie temperature of the austenite but hardly affects the mar tensitic transformation temperatures. As a consequence, the ordering increases the magnetization of the austenite without changing the transformation temperatures, doubles the sensitivity of the transformation to magnetic fields (the Claussius-Clapeyron slope goes from 2.1 to 3.9 K/T), improves the magnetocaloric effect, the reversibility and finally, enhances the refrigeration capacity. In addition, the magnetic hysteresis losses are among the lowest reported in the literature and the effective cooling capacity coefficient RCeff reaches 86 J/Kg for 2 T (15 % higher than those found in Ni-Mn based alloys) and 314 J/Kg for 6 T fields. Therefore, the ordered alloy possesses an excellent combination of low thermal hysteresis and high RCeff, not achieved previously in metamagnetic shape memory alloys near room temperature.
Open Access
Martensitic transformation controlled by electromagnetic field: from experimental evidence to wireless actuator applications
(Elsevier, 2022) Garayo Urabayen, Eneko; La Roca, Paulo Matías; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Mechanical actuators based on shape memory alloys (SMA) are becoming a key component in the development of novel soft robotic applications and surgically implantable devices. Their working principle relies in the temperature induced martensitic transformation (MT), which is responsible of the actuation mechanism. In this work, we found experimental evidence to show that the martensitic transformation can be controlled by electromagnetic field (EF) by a wireless process in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. It is shown that the martensitic transformation can be driven by an external EF (frequency 45 kHz) while the specific absorption rate (SAR), which was determined through real-time dynamic magnetization measurements, allows the instantaneous monitoring of the transformation evolution. On the basis of the obtained results, we propose a strategy to achieve a battery-free wireless SMA actuator that can be remotely controlled. This concept can be applicable to other SMA material that exhibit a similar magneto-structural phase transition
Open Access
Magnetically activated 3D printable polylactic acid/polycaprolactone/magnetite composites for magnetic induction heating generation
(Springer, 2023) Galarreta Rodríguez, Itziar; López Ortega, Alberto; Garayo Urabayen, Eneko; Beato López, Juan Jesús; La Roca, Paulo Matías; Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Additive manufacturing technology has attracted the attention of industrial and technological sectors due to the versatility of the design and the easy manufacture of structural and functional elements based on composite materials. The embedding of magnetic nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix enables the development of an easy manufacturing process of low-cost magnetically active novel polymeric composites. In this work, we report a series of magnetic composites prepared by solution casting method combining 5 to 60 wt.% of 140 ± 50 nm commercial Fe3O4 nanoparticles, with a semi-crystalline, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymeric blend made of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL). The composites were extruded, obtaining 1.5 ± 0.2 mm diameter continuous and flexible filaments for fused deposition modelling 3D printing. The chemical, magnetic, and calorimetric properties of the obtained filaments were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, taking advantage of the magnetic character of the filaments, their capability to generate heat under the application of low-frequency alternating magnetic fields (magnetic induction heating) was analyzed. The obtained results expose the versatility of these easy manufacturing and low-cost filaments, where selecting a desired composition, the heating capacity can be properly adjusted for those applications where magnetic induction plays a key role (i.e., magnetic hyperthermia, drug release, heterogeneous catalysis, water electrolysis, gas capture, or materials synthesis).
Open Access
Polycaprolactone/MSMA composites for magnetic refrigeration applications
(Wiley, 2024-09-06) Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Khanna, Deepali; La Roca, Paulo Matías; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Lambri, Fernando Daniel; Bonifacich, Federico Guillermo; Lambri, Osvaldo Agustín; Royo Silvestre, Isaac; Urbina Yeregui, Antonio; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
A high filling load (62% weight) printable magnetic composite has been elaborated from the dispersion of magnetocaloric Ni45Mn36.7In13.3Co5 metamagnetic shape memory alloy microparticles into a PCL polymer matrix. The composite material has been prepared by solution method, resulting in a very homogeneous particles dispersion into the matrix. The structural transitions in the polymer are not affected by the addition of the metallic microparticles, which in turn results in a significant increase of the mechanical consistency. The good ductility of the elaborated composite allows its extrusion in flexible printable filaments, from which 3D pieces with complex geometries have been grown. The heat transfer of the composite material has been assessed from finite element simulation. In spite of the achievable magnetocaloric values are moderated with respect to the bulk, numerical simulations confirm that, in terms of heat transference, a PCL/Ni-Mn-In-Co wire is more efficient than a bulk Ni-Mn-In-Co cubic piece containing the same amount of magnetic active material. The quite good magnetocaloric response of the composite and the possibility to print high surface/volume ratio geometries make this material a promising candidate for the development of heat exchangers for clean and efficient magnetic refrigeration applications.
Open Access
Monitoring structural transformations in metamagnetic shape memory alloys by non-contact GMI technology
(IOP Publishing, 2023) Beato López, Juan Jesús; La Roca, Paulo Matías; Algueta-Miguel, Jose M.; Garayo Urabayen, Eneko; Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Gómez Polo, Cristina; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Ciencias; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Zientziak; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Different applications based on metamagnetic shape memory alloy (MSMA) require monitoring the evolution of the martensitic transformation (MT) to optimize the actuation mechanism. To avoid interaction with the active material, a non-contact technique would be ideal. Nevertheless, non-contact detection involves complex methods like diffraction, optical analysis, or electromagnetic technology. The present work demonstrates that the MT can be monitored without interaction with the active material using a low-cost technology based on the Giant Magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect. The GMI sensor is based on a (CoFe)SiB soft magnetic wire submitted to an alternating current and whose second harmonic voltage variation allows to detect changes in the strength of the stray magnetic fields linked to the metamagnetic phase transition. The sensor has been tested using the MT of a NiMnInCo MSMA. A specific application for environmental temperature control using the non-contact GMI sensor is proposed.
Open Access
Effect of high-energy ball-milling on the magnetostructural properties of a Ni45Co5Mn35Sn15 alloy
(Elsevier, 2021) López García, José Luis; Sánchez-Alarcos Gómez, Vicente; Recarte Callado, Vicente; Rodríguez Velamazán, José Alberto; Unzueta, Iraultza; García, José Ángel; Plazaola, Fernando; La Roca, Paulo Matías; Pérez de Landazábal Berganzo, José Ignacio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PC017-018 AMELEC
The effect of high-energy ball-milling on the magnetostructural properties of a Ni45Co5Mn35Sn15 alloy in austenitic phase at room temperature has been analyzed by neutron and high-resolution X-ray diffraction. The ball milling promotes a mechanically-induced martensitic transformation as well as the appearance of amorphous-like non-transforming regions, following a double stage; for short milling times (below 30 min), a strong size reduction and martensite induction occur. On the opposite, for longer times, the increase of strains predominates and consequently a larger amount of non-transforming regions appears. The effect of the microstructural defects brought by milling (as dislocations) on both the enthalpy change at the martensitic transformation and the high field magnetization of the austenite has been quantitatively estimated and correlated to the internal strains. Contrary to what occurs in ternary Ni-Mn-Sn alloys, the mechanically-induced defects do not change the ferromagnetic coupling between Mn atoms, but just cause a net reduction on the magnetic moments.