Composite magnetostrictive materials for advanced automotive magnetomechanical sensors

Abstract

In this paper we present the development of a composite magnetostrictive material for automotive applications. The material is based on cobalt ferrite, CoO×Fe₂O₃, and contains a small fraction of metallic matrix phase that serves both as a liquid phase sintering aid during processing and enhances the mechanical properties over those of a simple sintered ferrite ceramic. In addition the metal matrix makes it possible to braze the material making the assembly of a sensor relatively simple. The material exhibits good sensitivity and should have high corrosion resistance while at the same time it is low cost.