Influence of Thermal Cycling in a Fe-Mn-Si-Cr Shape Memory Alloy

Abstract

The evolution of the martensitic transformation with the thermal cycling (transformation temperatures and transformed fraction) has been studied in a Fe-29Mn-6Si-6Cr (wt.%) shape memory alloy. The study was done by internal friction and modulus measurements, using an inverted torsion pendulum at 1 Hz. The internal friction peaks associated with the martensitic transformation are clearly observed in the spectra. This way the transformation temperatures and their evolution during cycling was determined. The study of the transformed fraction was carried out using the peak area. The experimental results and the behaviour of these alloys with the thermal cycling are discussed in the frame of a model of dislocation creation during cycling.