Patent ID: 6508854
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B22D,B64G,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
A method of preparing a magnetostrictive material, comprising the steps of:(a) melting metals having a composition corresponding to the magnetostrictive material; (b) subjecting said melt to a micro-gravity environment; (c) cooling said melt in the micro-gravity environment at a rate of at least 50Â° C. per second, by contacting said melt with a surface of a magnet having a temperature lower by at least 1,000Â° C. than that of said melt to solidify said melt; and (d) while cooling said melt in the micro-gravity environment, applying to said melt a magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of at least 0.01 T at said surface.