Precursor nanoscale textures in ferroelastic martensites

Abstract

This chapter deals with nanoscale spatially inhomogeneous states that occur as precursors of martensitic/ferroelastic transitions in many off-stoichiometric shape-memory alloys. We show that these states are a result of the competition between elastic anisotropy and disorder arising, for instance, from compositional fluctuations. In the limit of high disorder and/or low elastic anisotropy, we show that nanoscale inhomogeneities give rise to glassy behaviour, while the structural transition is inhibited. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.