A research team from the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University has developed a new material whose volume increases when a magnetic field is applied, such as by bringing a magnet close to it. A ceramic material that is a mixture of chromium and tellurium. The aim is to apply it to actuators (driving devices) and sensors used in precision equipment.
Precision equipment utilizes extendable actuators for positioning and other purposes. It is made of a material that deforms when a magnet is brought close to it or an electric current is passed through it. However, conventional materials for such applications have the property of shrinking in the horizontal direction when they swell in the vertical direction. There was also a problem that harmful lead etc. was included in the ingredients.
The new material is a ceramic (sintered body) made of chromium and tellurium. In addition to not containing iron or lead, it swells equally vertically and horizontally while maintaining its shape. It has the property of expanding in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field over a wide range of temperatures from -260 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius. The volume expanded by 0.12% when a magnetic field of 9 Tesla was applied, which is the maximum value of the device used in the experiment.
Professor Yoshihiko Okamoto of the University of Tokyo says, "We were able to achieve almost the same expansion as conventional materials," without using lead. He aims to develop higher performance materials by changing the types and compositions of elements.
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