Oriented nanotwins induced by electric current pulses in Cu-Zn alloy

After applying an electrical current pulse (ECP) to samples of Cu-Zn alloy, {111} oriented nanotwins parallel to the ECP direction in alpha phase grains have been observed at ambient temperature. It seems that (a) these samples have heated up to a temperature much higher than the alpha to beta phase transformation temperature and (b) new beta nuclei on the {110} planes have formed in the original alpha phase. As a result, with the samples being rapidly cooled, these oriented nanotwins will be formed with the beta to alpha martensitic transformation. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.