ETREMA PRODUCTS INC.
Subsidiary of Edge Technologies, Inc.
For many actuator and transducer applications the advanced Smart Material, ETREMA
TERFENOL-D
enables increased capability in a smaller package. TERFENOL-D is a near single
crystal metal alloy, which converts electrical power to mechanical power, and vice versa.
TERFENOL-D is said to be a Smart Material because of its ability to adapt to outside influences.
With higher energy density, long life, and electric drive advantages, TERFENOL-D is replacing
older actuators and actuation technologies. Etrema is the world's leading supplier of TERFENOL-D
materials, and also provides transducer or actuator design and manufacturing services for
TERFENOL-D driven products.
SMART MATERIAL
Smart materials have significant uses in commercial products as well as military applications.
Overall, world-wide sales of smart materials exceed $1Billion annually, with electrostrictive
technology accounting for 75% of the market, magnetostrictive and shape memory materials each
capture a 10% share and rheological fluids the remaining 5%. The share held by TERFENOL-D is
growing rapidly.
The name TERFENOL-D comes from the metallic elements; terbium (TER), iron (FE), Naval
Ordinance Labs (NOL), and Dysprosium-D. NOL developed and named the material, and is now
known as Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). The Navy developed TERFENOL-D for higher
power sonar that would also have greater bandwidth and greater reliability. Etrema holds
patents and licenses to many TERFENOL-D applications, including several key patents on the
material and the methods of manufacture of TERFENOL-D .
TERFENOL-D ATTRIBUTES
HIGH STRAIN
HIGH FORCE
WIDE BANDWIDTH
HIGH RELIABILITY/UNLIMITED CYCLE LIFE
WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE
MICROSECOND RESPONSE TIME
Etrema provides TERFENOL-D ready-to-use, lowering the effective cost to manufacturers.
Etrema's patented crystal growing machines produce solid metallic rods. Other shapes are pro-
duced by Etrema's machining processes. Contact Etrema for a quotation on the quantity and
configuration needed. Or, work with us to optimize performance and cost for any application.
DATA SHEET
Terf enol -D
TERFENOL-D versus field at various preloads
TERFENOL-D PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Nominal Composition Tb 0.3 Dy 0.7 Fe 1.92
Mechanical Properties
Young's Modulus 25-35 GPA
Sound Speed 1640-1940 m/s
Tensile Strength 28 Mpa
Compressive Strength 700 Mpa
Thermal Properties
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 12ppm/C
Specific Heat 0.35kJ/kg-K
Thermal Conductivity 13.5 W/m-k
Electrical Properties
Resistivity 58 x 10-8 O-m
Curie Temperature 380 C
Magnetostrictive Properties
Strain (estimated linear) 800-1200ppm
Energy Density 14-25 kJ/ m
3
Magnetomechanical Properties
Relative Permeability 3-10
Coupling Factor 0.75
Etrema Products, Inc.
2500 N. Loop Dr.
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 296-8030
(515) 268-4540 Fax
(800) 327-7291 Toll-Free
www.etrema-usa.com
TERFENOL-D is "magnetostrictive,"
meaning it changes shape in a
magnetic field. TERFENOL-D has a
greater shape change, or strain,
than other common transducer ma-
terials, such as piezoceramics or
nickel alloys. This means acoustic
devices driven by TERFENOL-D
have greater power, and actuators
have more displacement and more
force. Like other magnetostrictive
alloys, TERFENOL-D does not
change with time or number of cy-
cles.
What is Magnetostriction?
Magnetostriction is the property
that causes certain ferromagnetic
materials to change shape in a
magnetic field. TERFENOL-D is said
to produce "giant" magnetostriction,
strain greater than any other com-
mercially available smart material.
Magnetic domains in the crystal
rotate when a magnetic field is ap-
plied, providing proportional, posi-
tive and repeatable expansion in
microseconds.
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Applied Field (Oe)
