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Microstructural studies of a Cu-Zn-Al shape-memory alloy with manganese and zirconium addition

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Abstract

Mn and Zr were added to improve the shape-memory characteristics of a Cu-Zn-Al shape-memory alloy (SMA). The microstructure of a Cu-19.0Zn-13.1Al-1.1Mn-0.3Zr (at. pct) alloy was examined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The structure of the parent phase and martensite phase are DO3 (or L21) and M18R1, respectively. Two kinds of Zr-rich precipitates formed in the alloy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis with a TEM indicates that the two precipitates are all new phases and have the compositions of Cu50.2Zr24.6Al17.3Zn7.9 (at. pct) (Z 1 phase) and Cu57.4Zr20.4Zn10.3Al11.9 (at. pct) (Z 2 phase), respectively. The volume ratio of Z 1 phase in the alloy is about 70 pct of the total precipitate volume. The structure of Z 1 phase was studied in detail using TEM electron diffraction analyses. The lattice parameter of fcc Z 1 phase is a=1.24 nm, and the space group of the phase is F432 (No. 209). The Z 1 phase possesses an incoherent interface with the parent-phase matrix. The lattice correspondence of the Z 1 phase and parent-phase matrix is as follows:

$$\left[ {111} \right]_{\beta 1} \sim \left[ {110} \right]_{Z_1 } ;\left[ {\bar 110} \right]_{\beta 1} \sim \left[ {\bar 110} \right]_{Z_1 } ;\left[ {11\bar 2} \right]_{\beta 1} \sim \left[ {011} \right]_{Z_1 } $$

The effect of precipitate formation on the shape-memory characteristics of the Cu-Zn-Al-Mn-Zr alloy is discussed and compared to some other Cu-based SMAs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    W. H. Zou (Postdoctoral Fellow), C. W. H. Lam (Lecturer), C. Y. Chung (Assistant Professor) & J. K. L. Lai (Chair Professor of Materials Science)

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  1. W. H. Zou
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  2. C. W. H. Lam
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  3. C. Y. Chung
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  4. J. K. L. Lai
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Zou, W.H., Lam, C.W.H., Chung, C.Y. et al. Microstructural studies of a Cu-Zn-Al shape-memory alloy with manganese and zirconium addition. Metall Mater Trans A 29, 1865–1871 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0011-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0011-7

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