Kinetic effects in the mixed beta to beta(3)' + gamma(3)' martensitic transformation in a Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy

A single crystal with a selected composition of a Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy, undergoing two martensitic phase transformations when cooling from the common parent phase, beta(3) -> beta(3)' + gamma(3)', has been studied by adiabatic calorimetry. As the coexistence of two different martensites has a strong influence on the transformation kinetics, both the forward and the reverse phase martensitic transformation have been carefully studied by means of very low thermal rate dynamic thermograms. Temperature memory effects have been observed in the beta(3)' transformation but not in the gamma(3)' one. Finally, radiation-cooling procedures were used to study the forward transformation and showed the interaction between the two types of martensite variants on the nucleation processes. This last technique was found useful to evaluate the latent heat released at each individual nucleation event, throughout the transformation progress. The consequent sample self-heating alters this process, which dramatically affects the beta(3)'/gamma(3)' ratio and the final martensitic state. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.