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New Class of "Non-Joulian" Magnets Change Volume In Magnetic Field

Posted by Soulskill on from the polarizing-research dept.

Zothecula notes an announcement from the University of Maryland saying they have developed a new class of magnets, called "Non-Joulian" magnets, which physically expand in the presence of a magnetic field. "In the 1840s, physicist James Prescott Joule discovered that iron-based magnetic materials changed their shape but not their volume when placed in a magnetic field. This phenomenon is referred to as "Joule Magnetostriction," and since its discovery 175 years ago, all magnets have been characterized on this basis." Another significant property of these new magnets is that they can harvest or convert energy with very little waste heat (abstract). The magnets are created when thermally-treated, iron-based alloys are heated in a furnace, then rapidly cooled. When they reach room temperature, they have an odd, almost cellular shape on the microscopic level. The researchers say the magnets have numerous applications for energy-efficient sensors and actuators.

3 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. Deducing Fe-Ga by konohitowa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Looks like I can deduce Fe73.9–Ga26.1 from one of the images attached to the abstract.

  2. Re:Publicly Funded Research by GameboyRMH · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Aaron Swartz thought the same thing...

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  3. Re:Publicly Funded Research by konohitowa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You are just part of a brainwashed generation that demands to have everything you want paid for AND given to you, not only for free, but with zero effort on your part.

    I'm 50. Is that the generation you're referring to? I'm also 1/2 of a two-engineer household. My yearly income taxes are significantly more than an entry level engineering salary - you know, the taxes that already helped to pay for the research. Don't tell me I'm not making any effort and don't jump to conclusions about "my generation" because you obviously know fuck all about it.

    But hey. You're a smart person. You know all about me. My political views. My library status. Guess what? You're just as wrong about all of them. Absolutely every assumption you made was 100% wrong. Amazing. I would imagine you must get used to being wrong a lot though.

    Instead of blathering on with your erroneous, ignorant opinions, maybe you ought to take a good long look at yourself and realize you're actually preaching to yourself. Geez. What a douchebag.