摘要
The development of the giant magnetostrictive rare earth-iron materials is reported from their discovery in the early 1970's to their present use in transducer and sensor applications. Fifteen broad market areas, ranging from miniature devices in the medical industry to high powder sonar and seismic sources have been identified. A world-wide customer base in these high technology fields has been established and the superior properties of these materials are responsible for the rapid growth of the magnetostrictive transducer industries. The critical design criteria that lead to efficient devices are reported and the performance of several of these products is presented. The key patents associated with these giant magnetostrictive materials and devices using these materials are reviewed. The present and future of these technologies in reference to commercialization, market growth and the impact on the many transduction industries are discussed. (Author abstract) 9 Refs.
The development of the giant magnetostrictive rare earth-iron materials is reported from their discovery in the early 1970's to their present use in transducer and sensor applications. Fifteen broad market areas, ranging from miniature devices in the medical industry to high powder sonar and seismic sources have been identified. A world-wide customer base in these high technology fields has been established and the superior properties of these materials are responsible for the rapid growth of the magnetostrictive transducer industries. The critical design criteria that lead to efficient devices are reported and the performance of several of these products is presented. The key patents associated with these giant magnetostrictive materials and devices using these materials are reviewed. The present and future of these technologies in reference to commercialization, market growth and the impact on the many transduction industries are discussed. (Author abstract) 9 Refs.
