The stress-induced martensitic transformation and superelasticity in a βCu–Zn alloy containing α 1 plates

Abstract

The stress-induced martensitic transformation and superelasticity effect in a βCu–Zn alloy containing α 1 plates have been investigated. The results showed that the α 1 plates have no obvious effect on the deformation behavior in the aged specimens. The deformation behavior was dominated by the formation of stress-induced martensite (SIM). The cyclic loading–unloading behaviors and characteristics of the aged specimens were dependent on the test temperatures, which are similar to that of single-phase specimens. In addition, the mechanism of superelasticity in the alloy containing α 1 plates was not affected by the presence of the α 1 plates. The α 1 plates remain unchanged during stress cycling, which was independent of the test temperatures. The interface of SIM moved smoothly and was not hindered by the α 1 plates during the reversible martensitic transformation on loading–unloading cycle. Upon loading, the SIM cannot penetrate the α 1 plates ahead of them during their nucleation and growth, but may form the same variant on both sides of the α 1 plate at the same time or in sequence.