Aging Effects in Copper-Based Shape Memory Alloys

Abstract

Aging of three copper-based shape memory alloys was studied by measuring the time dependence of hardness, martensitic transformation temperatures, lattice parameters, and shape memory capability at temperatures in the range 200 to 450°C. The ultimate loss of the shape memory effect in each alloy was preceded by changes in the other properties which resulted from thermally activated processes having activation energies in the range 60 to 80 kJ mol-1. At temperatures above about 300°C the aging process involved the eventual formation of α and γ2 phases. Although the activation energy appears to be insensitive to temperature and alloy composition, at lower temperatures other thermally activated processes, such as change in the type or degree of order, may, at least in the initial stages, be significant aging phenomena.