Internal friction during martensitic transformation in high manganese Mn–Cu alloys

Low-frequency internal friction and elastic modulus were studied for manganese-rich Mn–Cu alloys in the temperature range of martensitic transformation (20–300 °C). It is shown that the some special features of the transformation peak and its temperature are caused by the degree of the spinodal decomposition. The phenomenological model connecting an-elastic effects with the stages of evolution of the structure during martensitic transformation in manganese-rich Mn–Cu alloys (tweed structure–“parquet” structure–classical twinning martensite) is presented.     

Microstructure characterization of the non-modulated martensite in Ni–Mn–Ga alloy

The microstructure of the non-modulated martensite in a Ni–Mn–Ga alloy has been characterized in detail by conventional transmission electron microscopy. Bright field images show that the martensite exhibits an internal substructure consisting of a high density of narrow twins. Using electron diffraction, it is found that the martensite has a tetragonal crystal structure. The lattice correspondence between the parent phase and the non-modulated martensite is investigated. Furthermore, the four twinning elements describing the microtwinning have been graphically and quantitatively determined. The results indicate that the microtwinning within the non-modulated martensite belongs to the compound type.     

Characteristics of Ti–Ni–Pd shape memory alloy thin films

Ti–Ni–Pd thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. Microstructure and phase transformation behaviors were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), by transmission electron microscopy and by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Also tensile tests and the internal friction characteristics were examined. Annealing at 750 °C followed by subsequent annealing at 450 °C resulted in relatively homogeneous microstructure and uniform martensite/austenite transformation. The results from DSC showed clearly the martensitic transformation upon heating and cooling, the transformation temperatures are 112 °C (M* peak) and 91 °C (M peak), respectively. The transformation characteristics are also found in strain–temperature curves and internal friction–temperature curves. The film had shape memory effect. The frequency had no effect on the modulus, but the internal friction decreased with increasing frequency.     

Ni–Mn–Ga shape memory alloys development in China

Study on Ni–Mn–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys recently keeps active. Intermartensitic transformation was found. Magnetic field enhanced phase transformation strain was discovered, and achieved up to 4%. Fifteen percent super high strain induced by variant reorientation under stress was obtained in non-modulated martensite. Six percent large magnetic field induced strain was achieved, and the temperature dependence was investigated in 5-layered martensite single-variant Ni–Mn–Ga alloys. Several other systems of magnetic shape memory alloys and high temperature shape memory alloy Ni–Mn–Ga are also reviewed.     

Effect of small γ-precipitates on the two-way shape memory effect in Cu–Zn–Al alloys

The γ-precipitates in Cu–Zn–Al alloys, trained by the stabilization of the stress induced martensite (SSIM) method, have been studied. After the SSIM treatment, it was found that small γ-precipitates in the β-austenite are ellipsoidal, with a large strain field oriented in the same direction; while in the martensite the γ-precipitates changed their shape from ellipsoid to spheroid, and relaxed their strain fields. In order to check whether the strain field of the γ-precipitates is capable of producing a thermoelastic martensitic transformation, an in-situ observation, by heating a sample holder in TEM, was performed. It was found that during heating over a temperature A_s, the γ-precipitates with a spherical shape in the martensite recovered their strain field and elliptical shape. During cooling, the strain field of the γ-precipitates disappeared again. It was proposed that the strain field of the γ-precipitates, trained by the SSIM method, plays an important part in the thermoelastic martensitic transformation, and presents two-way shape memory effects.     

Effects of aging on martensitic transformation of Ti50Ni25Cu25 shape memory alloy

Martensitic transformation has been studied in Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ shape memory alloy by internal friction (IF) measurement and X-ray diffraction. It shows that the martensitic transformation proceeds from B2 to B19 for the solution-treated Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloy. B2 phase is stabilized, and aging the alloy at 723–923 K decreases internal friction values. Part of the remaining B2 parent phase transform to B19′ monoclinic martensite at much lower temperatures.     

Internal friction associated with phase transformation of nanograined bulk Fe–25 at.% Ni alloy

The internal friction and modulus of a nanograined bulk Fe–25 at.% Ni prepared by an inert gas condensation and in situ warm consolidation technique were measured in temperature range −100 to 400 °C by means of a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). An internal friction peak at around −75 °C associated with martensitic transformation was observed. During heating, an internal friction peak at about 200 °C accompanied with the decrease of modulus was also observed, which was proved by XRD that this may mainly be attributed to the reverse phase transformation of stress-induced martensite (SIM). Some abnormal features of modulus versus temperature were observed and discussed.     

Effect of Small γ Precipitates on the Two-way Shape Memory Effect in a Cu–Zn–Al Alloy

After the treatment for the Stabilization of Stress-Induced Martensite (SSIM) in Cu–Zn–Al alloys, it was found that the small γ precipitates in the β austenite are ellipsoidal with a large strain field oriented in the same direction, while in the martensite, the γ precipitates changed their shape from ellipsoidal to spheroidal, which relaxed the strain field. To check whether the strain field of the γ precipitates is available to produce thermoelastic martensitic transformation, in situ observations with a heating sample holder in TME were performed. It was found that after heating above the A_s temperature, the spherical γ precipitates in the martensite recovered their strain field and elliptical shape. During cooling, the strain field of the γ precipitates disappeared again. This means that the strain fields of the γ precipitates trained by the SSIM method play an important part in the thermoelastic martensitic transformation that presents the two-way shape memory effect.     

Effect of Mn substitution on structural and magnetic properties of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

The structure and the magnetic transitions have been investigated as a function of Mn in stoichiometric Ni₂MnGa heusler alloys. Particular attention is paid to examine the linear increase of martensite transformation temperature on substituting Mn for Ga. It is observed that the martensite temperature increases and Curie temperature decreases with the effect of Mn content. Room-temperature magnetic measurements show the composition-dependent characteristics with decreasing magnetic saturation values and increasing coercivity values due to decrease in the magnetic exchange interaction strength with increasing Mn in place of Ga. The scanning electron microscopy image confirms that the Mn-rich alloys have the martensitic plates.     

Thermodynamic calculation of stacking fault energy in Fe–Mn–Si shape memory alloys

Based on thermodynamic considerations together with measurement of the stacking fault probability (Psf) by X-ray diffraction profile analysis, the stacking fault energy (SFE, γ) of austenite in Fe–Mn–Si shaped memory alloys can be estimated. For instance, the stacking fault energy of an fcc(γ) phase in an Fe–30.3Mn–6.06Si was calculated as 7.8 mJ/m². Compositional dependence of stacking fault energy in these alloys with certain composition range has also been derived as SFE(γ)=180.54+7.923 wt.% Mn–46.38 wt.% Si (J/mol), showing that the stacking fault energy increases with the addition of Mn and decreases with the addition of Si.     

Acicular ferritic microstructure of a low-carbon Mn–Mo–Nb microalloyed pipeline steel

The transformations during continuous cooling and isothermal processes, the effects of hot deformation and the morphology of the final microstructure of a low-carbon Mn–Mo–Nb microalloyed pipeline steel designed for acicular ferrite microstructure were investigated. The results show that there are three independent “C” curves for isothermal phase transformation, i.e., TTT diagram, of low-carbon microalloyed steel, namely, polygonal ferrite–pearlite transformation “C” curve, the massive ferrite transformation “C” curve and the bainitic transformation “C” curve, respectively. Hot deformation accelerates acicular ferrite transformation and refines the steel's matrix. The microstructure of acicular ferrite for pipeline steels was discussed.     

Study by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy of the elastic constants of the β phase in Cu---Al---Ni shape memory alloys

The evolution with temperature of the elastic constants of the metastable β phase in a Cu-27.96 at.%Al-3.62 at.% Ni shape memory alloy (SMA) has been studied by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). The corresponding elastic constants of this cubic phase have been measured near the martensitic transformation temperature in a single crystal. Above the martensitic transformation temperature, an anomalous behavior has been found in the C′elastic constant which shows a softening as the temperature decreases. The internal friction value Q⁻¹ has been obtained in this temperature range from the RUS spectra. The mechanisms associated with the Q⁻¹ increase must be related to {1 1 0} shear.     

The relationship of the volume fraction of martensite vs. plastic strain in an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–N shape memory alloy

The volume fractions of stress-induced martensite formed by certain plastic strains were determined by X-ray diffraction and quantitative metallography in an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–N alloy at room temperature. The results are fitted by least square method and are well consistent with an exponential function f_M=1−exp{−β[1−exp(−η)]ⁿ} deduced by Olson and Cohen, who used it to fit with experimental data for AISI304 stainless steel. The similarity of and β, as well as the difference in n for these two alloys are discussed in relation to their nucleation mechanisms.     

Martensitic Transformation in Magnetically Controlled Shape Memory Alloys Co50Ni20Ga30

The martensitic transformation for Co50Ni20Ga30 ribbon synthesized by the melt-spinning technique was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and ac magnetic susceptibility. The Co50Ni20Ga30 ribbon, having bcc phase with calculated lattice parameters of a=0.57431 nm at 313 K. It exhibits a structure transition from parent phase to martensite during cooling. The martensitic phase in Co50Ni20Ga30 ribbon is tetragonal structure with lattice parameters of a=b=0.5422 nm and c=0.6401 nm. (c/a>1). According to the changing of diffraction intensity for martensite and the change of ac magnetic susceptibility, the process of the martensitic transformation can be divided into three parts during cooling from 283 K to 213 K. When the temperature decreasing sequentially from 193 K to 110 K, the structure of the martensite has a change in which the a-axis decreases and c-axis increases. The morphologies of selfaccommodation were observeds. The parallelogram morphology, the diamond morphology and the fork morphology were     

Internal friction of Ti–Ni–Cu ternary shape memory alloys

Low frequency internal friction was measured on three specimens of Ti–Ni–Cu ternary alloys, the Cu content varying from 10 to 20 at.%, while Ti content was fixed at 50 at.%. The internal friction spectrum consists mainly of two peaks, a sharper one associated with the B2–B19 transformation and the other one at around 250 K, which is much broader and higher than the former. The peak height of the latter is 0.2 for the specimen containing 20% Cu, which shows that this alloy can be an excellent high damping material. Transformation behavior was studied by electrical resistivity, thermopower and DSC measurements, and was compared with the result of internal friction measurements. Solution treatment at higher temperatures lowers the internal friction peak markedly. Scanning electron microscopy observation reveals that the behaviors of precipitates are different for different solution treatment temperature, suggesting that the precipitation behavior is crucial in the damping properties.     

Quantitative microstructural characterisation of Fe–30Ni alloy after martensitic transformations by means of stereological and magnetic methods

In the Fe–30Ni alloy investigated a martensitic transformation can occur both during quenching or plastic deformation. Martensite formed during plastic deformation, depending on the thermo-mechanical treatment applied, exhibits a different morphology from that achieved during quenching and forms the so-called composite-like structure. The morphology and volume fraction of martensite depends both on strain and temperature. In the present studies Fe–30Ni alloy was deformed by monotonic rolling in one path and perpendicular rolling in the temperature range M_D–M_S. The aim of the investigations was a determination of martensite volume fraction depending on the strain and temperature. To examine the influence of strain, the alloy was deformed by rolling in one path or perpendicular rolling at a temperature of − 30 °C, in the strain range of 10–30%. The dependence of temperature was investigated by rolling with 30% strain in a temperature range from − 30 °C to − 80 °C. The variants of thermo-mechanical treatment performed enabled us to achieve different martensite morphologies and volume fractions. Microstructural analysis was performed by means of light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results of quantitative microstructural analysis of martensite and retained austenite volume fractions formed in different thermo-mechanical treatments were compared with those obtained by magnetic measurements. The fraction of deformation-induced martensite determined varied from 2% to 86%. The partial volume fractions V_V^MF of martensite formed in different deformation directions were also determined. It was found that the influence of the temperature on the martensite volume fraction is more pronounced than the influence of strain.     

磁控溅射Ni_(56)Mn_(27)Ga_(17)高温形状记忆薄膜的马氏体相变与组织结构

采用磁控溅射方法制备了Ni_(56)Mn_(27)Ga_(17)高温形状记忆合金薄膜,研究了薄膜的马氏体相变行为和组织结构.试验结果表明,Ni_(56)Mn_(27)Ga_(17)薄膜马氏体相变开始温度高达584K,该薄膜室温下为非调制四方结构马氏体.透射电镜观察进一步表明,其马氏体亚结构为(111)I型孪晶.     

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of shape memory alloy reinforced composite laminate (Ni–Ti/glass-fibre/epoxy)

The thermo-mechanical behaviour of a shape memory alloy reinforced composite (SMARC) laminated plate (Ni–48.8Ti/Glass-fibre/Epoxy) was studied. A theoretical frame of the constitutive law was first proposed using irreversible thermodynamics. Expressions were derived in details in terms of some approximations based on meso-mechanics. Typical experiments, including uniaxial tension, restrained recovery, free recovery tests, etc., were carried out to determine the material coefficients. The results obtained include the constitutive relationship between stress and strain, the expression of entropy, and the dependence of the effective “elastic” coefficients on temperature.     

Deformation and martensitic transformation

The influence of applied stresses and imposed plastic deformation on the martensitic transformation of a parent phase is described. Changes in mechanical properties such as flow stress, work hardening rate, fracture toughness, etc brought about by strain-induced martensitic transformation are briefly examined. In the absence of appreciable dislocation glide, atomic displacements associated with glissile boundaries are highly ordered and reversible modes of (plastic or nonlinear pseudoelastic) deformation. Such processes lead to large strains and are encountered in deformation twinning, martensitic transformations and in the reorientation of martensite units. The reversibility leads to phenomena such as elastic twinning, thermoelastic martensites, superelasticity, shape memory and two-way shape memory effects, and rubber-like behaviour. These are discussed using a unified approach based on thermoelastic equilibrium. The shape memory effect suggests several potential applications of the martensitic transformations in non-ferrous alloys in which the effect is most commonly observed. Recent developments in this area are reviewed with special reference to the prerequisites for the effect and the influence of metallurgical processing on the extent of shape recovery.     

Martensitic transformation and shape memory properties of Ti-Ta-Sn high temperature shape memory alloys

The effects of Ta and Sn contents on the martensitic transformation temperature, crystal structure and thermal stability of Ti-Ta-Sn alloys are investigated in order to develop novel high temperature shape memory alloys. The martensitic transformation temperature significantly decreases by aging or thermal cycling due to the formation of ω phase in the Ti-Ta binary alloys. The addition of Sn is effective for suppressing the formation of ω phase and improves stability of shape memory effect during thermal cycling. The amount of Sn content necessary for suppressing aging effect increases with decreasing Ta content. High martensitic transformation temperature with good thermal stability can be achieved by adjustment of the Ta and Sn contents. Furthermore, the addition of Sn as a substitute of Ta with keeping the transformation temperature same increases the transformation strain in the Ti-Ta-Sn alloys. A Ti-20Ta-3.5Sn alloy reveals stable shape memory effect with a martensitic transformation start temperature about 440 K and a larger recovery strain when compared with a Ti-Ta binary alloy showing similar martensitic transformation temperature.