The structure, Curie temperature, and magnetostriction of SmZn1−xMnx polycrystalline crystals were investigated by x-ray diffraction, vibrating-sample magnetometer, and standard strain gauge techniques. It is found that SmZn1−xMnx alloys are nearly a single Sm(Zn,Mn) phase with the CsCl-type cubic structure up to x=0.2. The Curie temperature of SmZn1−xMnx alloys quickly increases with increasing Mn when x⩽0.05 and gradually does in the range of 0.05<x⩽0.2. The substitution of Mn for Zn in the SmZn compound has a marked effect on improving the Curie temperature and makes it reach 255K when x=0.2. The magnetization of SmZn1−xMnx alloys increases with increasing Mn content in the range of 0<x⩽0.2 and the magnetostriction increases in the range of 0<x⩽0.15.

A mathematical model of vibration power generation (VPG) with the giant magnetostrictive material (GMM) is proposed on the basis of the magneto-mechanical coupling model, Jiles-Atherton model and electromagnetic induction law. According to the model, the output voltage of a giant magnetostrictive power generator has been calculated under the condition of different vibration frequency, pre-stress and bias magnetic field. The calculating results show that the model can reveal the relationship between the input vibrating stress and output voltage. The experiment of a giant magnetostrictive power generator has been carried out, and the experimental results agree well with the calculating results.

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