Ni39+x Mn50Sn11-x (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2) alloys comprise multiple martensite nanostrips of nanocrystallites when cast in small discs, for example, ∼15 mm diameter and 8 mm width. A single martensite phase with a L10 tetragonal crystal structure at room temperature can be formed at a critical Sn content of 9.0 at.% (x = 2), whereas an austenite cubic L21 phase turns up at smaller x ⩽ 1.5. The...

We study the behavior of crystals that undergo martensitic transformations. On cooling, the high-temperature phase (austenite) transforms to the martensite phase changing its crystalline symmetry. The lower crystalline symmetry of the martensite gives rise to several variants of martensite. Each variant has an associated transformation strain. These variants accommodate themselves (according to...

Shape-memory hacks were fabricated in a single processing step ("one-time procedure") by a combination of tensile and bending deformation of a martensitic NiTi-wire. The hacks reversibly changed curvature on heating and cooling in a reproducible manner over 50 thermal cycles. This new type of intrinsic two-way shape memory effect was studied by subjecting the hacks to a beam of high-energy sync...

Stimulated by recent experimental results on superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy, a theoretical study is carried out to quantify the effect of plasticity on stress-induced martensite transformation, using a constitutive model that combines phase transformation and plasticity. A constraint equation is introduced to quantify the phenomenon of the stabilisation of plasticity on stress-induced mar...

This work focuses on the stress-induced transformation in solutionized and overaged single-crystal NiTi alloys. The potential role of detwinning on the recoverable strains was investigated both theoretically and also with temperature-cycling experiments. The detwinning is the growth of one variant within a martensite in expense of the other. It is shown that the experimental recoverable strains...

Polarization-dependent X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) on the O 1s edge has been measured on a highly in-plane aligned (1 0 0) a-axis YBa2Cu3O7 d (YBCO) thin films. The in-plane XAS, that is, the electric field E of the linearly polarized synchrotron light parallels to bor c-axes of YBCO films (Ekb or Ekc), were obtained in a normal-incidence alignment. Furthermore, the XAS for Eka was calculate...

Diffusionless phase transitions are at the core of the multifunctionality of (magnetic) shape memory alloys, ferroelectrics and multiferroics. Giant strain effects under external fields are obtained in low symmetric modulated martensitic phases. We outline the origin of modulated phases, their connection with tetragonal martensite and consequences for their functional properties by analysing th...

The features of martensite transformation in Fe (31 32)% Ni melt-quenched alloys are considered. The meltquenching was realized by spinning technique with variable parameters. The influence of the melt-quenching on structural and kinetics transformation parameters is revealed. In particular Ms point is shown to decrease but volume percentage of athermal martensite is found to be invariable with...