Effect of Magnetostatic Interactions on Twin Boundary Motion in NiMnGa Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy
We investigated the effect of magnetostatic interactions on the field-induced reorientation of martensite variants in Ni50.0Mn27.5Ga22.5. The reorientation, achieved by sweeping a single Type-II twin boundary along the sample, was triggered by a twinning stress of about 0.1 MPa. However, depending on the initial position of the twin boundary, the magnetic field providing the critical stress varied in the range 832 kA/m. By taking into account the variants sizes and their mutual interactions, we explained the observed dependence of the switching field on the location of the boundary. The resulting match between model predictions and measurements illustrates the fundamental role played by demagnetization effects and magnetostatic interactions in magnetic shape memory effect.
Study of Non-Homogeneity of Magnetic Field Distribution in Single-Crystal Ni–Mn–Ga Magnetic Shape Memory Element in Actuators Due to Its Anisotropic Twinned Microstructure
Magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloys are relatively new and very promising “smart” materials that respond to magnetic fields and exhibit the shape memory effect at room temperature. Maximum strain varies from 6% to 12% of the MSM element’s length depending on its microstructure. The shape memory effect and the magnetic field-induced reorientation of MSM twin variants in low-temperature martensite phase have been subject to ongoing research for almost two decades. However, the magnetic field distribution in the MSM elements and effects of its varying magnetic permeability on bias magnetic field are not well studied. In this paper, we present an extension to the existing modeling approach for MSM elements applicable to actuator design. The effects arising from single-crystal anisotropy and demagnetization effects due to non-homogeneous multi-variant MSM microstructure are studied and discussed. The proposed approach is validated by comparing computational results with the previously reported measurement data.
A Critical Assessment on Functional Attributes and Degradation Mechanism of Membrane Electrode Assembly Components in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are typically a subset of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) that possess benefits such as fuel flexibility, reduction in plant balance, and benign operation. Due to their benefits, DMFCs could play a substantial role in the future, specifically in replacing Li-ion batteries for portable and military applications. However, the critical concern with DMFCs is the degradation and inadequate reliability that affect the overall value chain and can potentially impede the commercialization of DMFCs. As a consequence, a reliability assessment can provide more insight into a DMFC component’s attributes. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the integral component of the DMFC stack. A comprehensive understanding of its functional attributes and degradation mechanism plays a significant role in its commercialization. The methanol crossover through the membrane, carbon monoxide poisoning, high anode polarization by methanol oxidation, and operating parameters such as temperature, humidity, and others are significant contributions to MEA degradation. In addition, inadequate reliability of the MEA impacts the failure mechanism of DMFC, resulting in poor efficiency. Consequently, this paper provides a comprehensive assessment of several factors leading to the MEA degradation mechanism in order to develop a holistic understanding.