Title: Structural effects of high-temperature plastic deformation process on martensite plate morphology in a Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA

Authors: M-G. Suru; N.M. Lohan; B. Pricop; I.P. Spiridon; E. Mihalache; R.I. Comaneci; L-G. Bujoreanu

Addresses: Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania ' Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, The 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iaşi, Bd. D. Mangeron 61A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania

Abstract: An Fe-Mn-Si-Cr shape memory alloy (SMA) was induction melted, in a cold crucible furnace, cast into cylindrical moulds and swaged by means of two hot working processes. From repeatedly hot forged and hot rolled billets, different specimens were prepared with longitudinal and transversal orientations with respect to main plastic deformation direction. After corresponding metallographic preparation, structural analyses comprising optical (OM), scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopy observations were performed with the aim to emphasise the structural effects, of the two above mentioned plastic deformation processes on martensite plate morphology, size and distribution. The paper reports the results recorded by OM, SEM and AFM and corroborates martensite plate surface relief with high-temperature plastic deformation process. The results show that martensite plates were shorter and deeper in hot forged specimens as compared to hot rolled ones, an effect which is atypical for Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMAs.

Keywords: shape memory alloys; SMA; surface relief; hot working; phase transition; structural effects; high-temperature plastic deformation; martensite plate morphology; induction melting; hot forging; iron; manganese; silicon; chromium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2015.068534

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2015 Vol.50 No.3/4, pp.276 - 288

Received: 21 Aug 2013
Accepted: 17 Mar 2014
Published online: 05 Apr 2015 *

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