Spingetal

Spingetal is a fictional metallic alloy used in theoretical and educational contexts to illustrate spintronic materials. It is described as having a tunable combination of magnetic order and electrical conductivity, achieved through careful alloying of an iron-based base with elements such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, and trace additions.

The name derives from spin and metal, reflecting its intended use to carry spin-polarized currents in devices. The concept is widely employed in textbooks and simulations to discuss trade-offs between magnetization, anisotropy, ductility, and processing.

Composition and variants commonly cited in discussions include a base of 60–80% iron, 10–25% nickel, 5–12% cobalt, and 1–5% chromium, with 0.5–2% boron or carbon. Optional dopants like gadolinium or other rare earths are mentioned to adjust magnetic anisotropy. Variants of spingetal emphasize higher spin polarization, greater corrosion resistance, or improved ductility, depending on the chosen balance of alloying elements and heat treatment.

Properties attributed to spingetal in educational materials include high saturation magnetization, low coercivity, and good electrical conductivity, along with acceptable thermal stability. Microstructure is described as nanocrystalline or amorphous, with grain size and phase distribution tailored by processing to modify anisotropy and mechanical performance.

Production and processing methods discussed for spingetal include powder metallurgy, rapid solidification, and spark plasma sintering, followed by annealing to tune microstructure and properties. Applications in these discussions focus on research contexts, such as MRAM prototypes, magnetic sensors, and spintronic interconnects. As a theoretical or classroom construct, spingetal is not an industry-standard material and does not represent an established product.