Shape Memory Effect and Martensitic Transformation in Fe–Mn–Al–Ni Alloy

Abstract

In this study, the influence of an aging treatment on the shape memory effect and martensitic transformation was investigated in an Fe–Mn–Al–Ni alloy by adding a small amount of Nb and C elements. Results show that the aging treatment can significantly improve the shape recovery rate of the alloy. In the bending test with 4% deformation, after aging at 200 °C for 1 h, the recovery rate increased from 20 to 45%, and it further increased to 51% after the two-step aging treatment at 800 and 200 °C. The high-temperature in situ X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscope were used to reveal the shape memory effect between room temperature and 400 °C in this alloy due to γ′→α transformation. The microstructure of aged specimens was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. With the extension of the aging time from 0.5 to 6 h, the size of NiAl precipitation gradually grew from 9 to 32 nm, and the distribution became more uniform. Meanwhile, the NbC particles were found in the two-step aging treatment alloy, which was the key to improving the shape memory effect.