Effects of magnetoelastic coupling in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys and piezopolymer/FSMA composite material (Review article)

In the present article, the ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) that undergo structural phase transition of magnetoelastic type from the cubic phase (austenite) to the low-symmetry phase (martensite) are considered. The analytic review of those properties of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, which are closely related to magnetoelastic coupling, is carried out. The experimentally observed strong impact of structural phase transition on magnetic anisotropy, temperature dependence of magnetization and giant magnetic-field-induced deformation of martensite is explained. The amplification of magnetocaloric response of FSMA by the structural phase transition is analyzed quantitatively. The magnetically induced piezoelectric effect in the piezopolymer/FSMA composite material is considered.