The two way shape memory effect in stabilized Cu-Zn-Al single and polycrystals

Abstract

The influence of martensite stabilization on the two way shape memory effect (TWME) has been studied in a commercial Cu-Zn-Al alloy. It is shown that the TWME is never complete, in contrast to results for single crystals. It depends on the fraction of martensite that is stabilized, i.e. on the stabilization stress and on the temperature to which the sample is heated after stabilization: The lower the stress, the higher is the efficiency of the TWME, but the smaller is also the total TWME strain. No influence of heating velocity could be detected up to 140°C.