The stabilization of martensite in CuZnAl alloys

Abstract

The stabilization and subsequent recovery of stress induced martensite in CuZnAl single crystals has been quantitatively studied as a function of stabilization time and temperature, quenching temperature and previous aging in the β phase. It is observed that the stabilization reaches a saturation value for long stabilization times. It is shown that the results can be quantitatively interpreted considering that the degree of long range order inherited from the β phase during the martensitic transformation changes during the stabilization to a new equilibrium state.