TERFENOL-D

Why now and not long ago? Enabling superior diesel fuel injection provided strong impetus for investigating the extent of terfenol-d capabilities, an intermetallic alloy with unusual properties. All other known magnetostrictive materials have a much smaller mechanical response to a magnetic field.

Terfenol-d possesses an unmagnetized elastic modulus of about 10% of steel, meaning it stores significant mechanical energy by preload compression. A terfenol-d actuator uses electrical energy to create a magnetic field which releases the stored mechanical energy. Effectively, the actuator converts nearly all electrical input into mechanical output. Importantly, significant mechanical output requires slightly more significant electrical input. In many cases, this also means that rapid solenoid coil ohmic heating requires active cooling and/or duty cycling.

With the need to operate a diesel fuel injector quickly and without ringing, Quantum Control Works, L.C., discovered (and patented) the keys to controlled speed of terfenol-d, unlocking its usefulness.

This website summarizes key characteristics of terfenol-d and the Bright Principle for superior performance of diesel fuel injectors, seismic vibration sources, and many other purposes.