Effect of quenching and solubilization temperature on thermal, electrical, mechanical, and magnetic properties of a Heusler CuAlMnTiB alloy

Abstract

We report a systematic investigation of the effect of quenching and solubilization temperature on the thermal, electrical, mechanical, and magnetic properties of the Heusler alloy CuAlMnTiB. The experimental procedure and the results obtained demonstrated that the tempering process can effectively adjust the physical properties of the CuAlMnTiB alloy. This treatment led to an increase in electrical resistivity, which went from $2.34\times {10}^{-7}\Omega \bullet m$ in the raw melt sample (TBF) to $4.49\times {10}^{-7}\Omega \bullet m$ in the sample quenching at 850 ºC (T850), in addition to an increase in the Curie temperature, from 297.5 ºC (TBF) to 305.85 ºC (T850). A decrease in remanent magnetization from 2.74 emu/g (TBF) to 0.31 emu/g (T850) and in the coercive field, which reduced from 54.15 Oe in the TBF to 4.55 Oe in the T850, was also observed. This makes tempering a viable alternative to adapt these properties to various technological applications, without requiring changes in the alloy composition. Here we were able to reach structural and magnetic properties compatible with those reported in the literature for CuMnAl alloys of different compositions.