The <100> oriented Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloys with various contents of NbC or B were prepared by directionally
solidification method at the growth rate of 720 mm·h−1. With a small amount of precipitates, the columnar
grains grew with cellular mode during directional solidification process, while like-dendrite mode of grains growth was observed in the alloys with higher contents of 0.5 at% due to the dragging effect of precipitates on the boundaries. The NbC precipitates disperse both inside grains and along the boundaries of Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloys with NbC addition, and the Fe₂B secondary phase particles preferentially distribute along the grain boundaries in B-doped alloys. Precipitates could affect grain growth and improved the <100> orientation during directional solidification process. Small amount of precipitate element addition slightly increased the magnetostrictive strain, and a high value of 335 ppm under pre-stress of 15 MPa was achieved in the alloys with 0.1 at% NbC. Despite the fact that the effect on magnetic induction density of small amount of precipitates could be negligible, the coercivity markedly increased with addition of precipitate element for Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy due to the retarded domain motion resulted by precipitates.