Stress-induced transformation in a Ni-Mn-In alloy and the concomitant change of resistivity

Abstract

In this work, the influence of mechanical stress on magnetic properties and electric resistance of a Ni-Mn-In alloy was studied. It is shown that compression of Ni-Mn-In polycrystalline specimens brings about a stressinduced martensitic transformation. Optical images recorded in-situ confirmed the formation of a martensitic structure during loading and back-transformation upon unloading. Unloading after deformation of specimens that had experienced compressive strains up to 6% resulted in full recovery of their resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. The sharp increase in the electric resistance caused by the stress-induced transformation opens up new possibilities for Ni-Mn-In alloys to be used as a material for sensors responding to mechanical stress.