Effects of Ageing with Electric Pulse Treatment on Shape Memory Effect and Precipitation of Cr23C6 Carbide in a Pre-deformed Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-C Alloy

Effects of ageing with electric pulse treatment on shape memory effect and precipitation of Cr23C6 carbide in a pre-deformed Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-C alloy were investigated. The results showed that electric pulse treatment could accelerate the migration of Cr and C atoms and precipitation of Cr23C6 carbides, lower ageing temperature, shorten ageing time and induce the nucleation of Cr23C6 carbides. Therefore, the shape recovery ratio was improved to the maximum value 89.2% from 32% of a water-quenching alloy within 30 min in a pre-deformed Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-C alloy aged with electric pulse treatment compared to alloys aged without electric pulse treatment at 973 K.