Role of carbon in improving the shape memory effect of Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni alloys by thermo-mechanical treatments

Abstract

To clarify the role of carbon in improving the shape memory effect of Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloys by thermomechanical treatments, we investigated the effect of optimum thermomechanical treatments on shape memory effect and microstructures of Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni and Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni-0.12C alloys. The Cr23C6 particles in optimum thermomechanical-treated Fe-14Mn-5S-8Cr-4Ni-0.12C more effectively prevented collisions between stress-induced martensite bands than the residual α′ martensite in optimum thermomechanical-treated Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni. This result is attributed to the thinner width of stress-induced martensite bands in optimum thermomechanical-treated Fe-14Mn-5S-8Cr-4Ni-0.12C compared to optimum thermomechanical-treated Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni. In addition, the Cr23C6 particles formed at more sites and provided more obstacles as compared with the residual α′ martensite. Accordingly, the recovery strain of Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni-0.12C was higher than that of Fe-14Mn-5Si-8Cr-4Ni. It is concluded that carbon addition is beneficial to further improving the shape memory effect of Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloys by thermomechanical treatments.