Magnetocaloric and Shape Memory Effects in the Mn2NiGa Heusler Alloy

The results of investigation of functional characteristics of the Mn2NiGa Heusler alloy prepared by argon-arc melting are presented. Its electric resistance, magnetization, magnetocaloric and shape memory effects were studied using direct experimental techniques in a wide temperature range 100-400 K. The inverse magnetocaloric effect, which does not reach saturation in pulsed magnetic fields up to 50 T, was observed in both martensite and austenite phases. The value of reversible deformation in the alloy was as high as 0.35% under bending mechanical loads up to 247 MPa.