Effect of Fe on Phase Transformation of Low Temperature Cu-Al-Mn Memory Alloy

Abstract

The influence of Fe addition on the phase transformation and the microstructure of Cu67Al27-XMn6FeXshape memory alloys are investigated by means of electrical resistivity, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and microhardness test. It was shown that the Ms (Martensitic start transformation) temperature of the 850°C heat-treated alloy exhibit a sharp increase as Fe content increases, by comparison with the alloy without heat-treatment. For example, after 850°C heat-treatment, the Ms temperature of the alloy increases from 52K to 135K when Fe is added from 0 at.% to 1.5 at.%. The microstructure of as-homogenized Cu67Al27-XMn6FeXalloys consists of Cu3Al matrix, γ2(Cu9Al4) and α (Cu) phases. Fe element was distributed in precipitates and matrix.