Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 February 2013
In order to develop NiMnGa/polymer composite materials, a production of single-crystal-like NiMnGa particles is important and should be developed for better quality. Although mechanical pulverization is a promising method by utilizing intrinsic intergranular brittleness of NiMnGa polycrystalline ingots, the amount of lattice defects introduced during mechanical crushing needs to be minimized. This must be achieved by enhancement of intergranular brittleness of NiMnGa particles. In this study, the effect of Bi addition on the compressive fracture behavior of polycrystalline Ni50Mn28Ga22 was investigated where Bi was expected to be segregated to the grain boundaries in NiMnGa, similar to Bi segregation to the grain boundaries in Ni. It was found that only intergranular fracture was observed in Ni50Mn28Ga22 polycrystals with 0.3 at.% Bi addition, although a mixture of intergranular and transgranular fracture was observed in Bi-free Ni50Mn28Ga22 polycrystal. Microalloying of Bi into NiMnGa enhances intergranular embrittlement. A number of spherical particles of Bi were confirmed on the fractured surface of Bi-doped NiMnGa polycrystals. The formation of Bi particles is a proof of the grain boundary segregation of Bi in NiMnGa.