Crystallographic variant selection of martensite during fatigue deformation

Metastable austenitic stainless steels are prone to form deformation-induced martensite under the influence of externally applied stress. Crystallographic variant selection during martensitic transformation of metastable austenite has been investigated thoroughly with respect to the interaction between the applied uniaxial cyclic stress and the resulting accumulated plastic strain during cyclic plastic deformation. The orientation of all the Kurdjomov–Sachs (K-S) variants has been evaluated extensively and compared with the measured orientation of martensite with their corresponding interaction energies by applying the elegant transformation texture model recently developed by Kundu and Bhadeshia. Encouraging correlation between model prediction and experimental data generation for martensite pole figures at many deformed austenite grains has been observed. It has been found that both the applied uniaxial cyclic stress and the accumulated plastic strain are having strong influence on crystallographic variant selection during cyclic plastic deformation. Patel and Cohen’s classical theory can be utilized to predict the crystallographic variant selection, if it is correctly used along with the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography.     

In situ synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction analysis of thermomechanically induced phase transformations in Cu–Al–Ni shape-memory alloy

Phase transformations in a single-crystal Cu–Al–Ni shape-memory alloy induced by thermomechanical effects were investigated in situ by high-resolution synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction. Contrary to the common belief, austenite texture maps revealed that austenite-to-martensite transformation occurred during heating of the partially transformed material under fixed specimen elongation. Twinned and detwinned types of martensite coexisted during this austenite-to-martensite phase transformation. Twinning and detwinning structures evolved to accommodate changes in stress and strain generated in the temperature-varying environment. Small amounts of austenite exhibiting distorted crystallographic orientation were detected in regions of stress-induced martensite during heating of the partially transformed material. The results of this investigation provide insight into intriguing stress rate-dependent phenomena intrinsic of shape-memory alloys and elucidate complex phase transformations due to thermal and mechanical stress effects.     

Exploring the origin of variant selection through martensite-austenite reconstruction

An approach of near neighbour correlation, with manual intervention, was developed for reconstructing parent austenite microstructure in a martensitic stainless steel. This was validated in a ferrite-austenite dual structure. Two-hundred and twenty randomly selected austenite grains were reconstructed from the experimental EBSD (electron backscattered diffraction) measurements. From these reconstructions, martensite variant selection was quantified as the number of variants (n_V) and the variant selection index (VSI: a statistical index for the relative area fractions of the variants). For each prior austenite grain, both n_V and VSI appeared to depend on the associated transformation (austenite-martensite) strain. Selection of common variants between two neighbouring austenite grains was related to the presence of 60°<111?>?or Σ3 boundary in the austenite phase and corresponding minimisation of the transformation strain.     

Crystallographic Analysis of FCC ? BCT Martensitic Transformation in the Alloy Fe-22% Ni-0.8% C

The infinitesimal deformation (ID) approach is applied to analyse the crystallography involved in the fcc to bct martensitic transformation for the case of (101)_γ[<formula><overline>1</overline>01</formula>]_γ twinning shear as LIS (lattice invariant shear) system in the alloy Fe-22% Ni-0.8% C. Analytical solutions are derived for habit plane orientation, orientation relationships between austenite and martensite phases, and the magnitude of the total shape deformation, etc. In order to compare numerical solutions with the ID approach and phenomenological crystallographic theory, the corresponding crystallographic parameters are calculated by using the Ledbetter and Dunn (L-D) theory. The numeric values obtained are compared with the predictions of the phenomenological crystallographic theories, and with experimental results.     

An Infinitesimal Deformation Approach to the Crystallographic Theory of the Martensite Phase Transformation: Application to Au-Cd,Fe-Ni AND In-Tl Alloys

Using the infinitesimal deformation approach, a crystallographic analysis of the austenite-martensite transformation from the cubic to orthorhombic phase - which predicts crystallographic parameters such as habit plane, orientation relationship between austenite and martensite, rotation matrix and total shape deformation matrix - is derived from a knowledge of the crystal structures of the initial and final phase only. The numerical values coming from orientation relationships obtained for Au-47.5 Cd Fe-Ni and In--Tl alloys are compared with predictions of the phenomenological crystallographic theory, infinitesimal deformation approach and experimental data.     

Grain boundary engineering: fatigue fracture

Abstract

Grain boundary engineering has revealed significant enhancement of material properties by modifying the populations and connectivity of different types of grain boundaries within the polycrystals. The character and connectivity of grain boundaries in polycrystalline microstructures control the corrosion and mechanical behaviour of materials. A comprehensive review of the previous researches has been carried out to understand this philosophy. Present research thoroughly explores the effect of total strain amplitude on phase transformation, fatigue fracture features, grain size, annealing twinning, different grain connectivity and grain boundary network after strain controlled low cycle fatigue deformation of austenitic stainless steel under ambient temperature. Electron backscatter diffraction technique has been used extensively to investigate the grain boundary characteristics and morphologies. The nominal variation of strain amplitude through cyclic plastic deformation is quantitatively demonstrated completely in connection with the grain boundary microstructure and fractographic features to reveal the mechanism of fatigue fracture of polycrystalline austenite. The extent of boundary modifications has been found to be a function of the number of applied loading cycles and strain amplitudes. It is also investigated that cyclic plasticity induced martensitic transformation strongly influences grain boundary characteristics and modifications of the material’s microstructure/microtexture as a function of strain amplitudes. The experimental results presented here suggest a path to grain boundary engineering during fatigue fracture of austenite polycrystals.     

Grain refinement and strengthening of austenitic stainless steels during large strain cold rolling

The microstructure/texture evolution and strengthening of 316?L-type and 304?L-type austenitic stainless steels during cold rolling were studied. The cold rolling was accompanied by the deformation twinning and micro-shear banding followed by the strain-induced martensitic transformation, leading to nanocrystalline microstructures consisting of flattened austenite and martensite grains. The fraction of ultrafine grains can be expressed by a modified Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation, while inverse exponential function holds as a first approximation between the mean grain size (austenite or martensite) and the total strain. The deformation austenite was characterised by the texture components of Brass, {011}<211>, Goss, {011}<100>, and S, {123}<634>, whereas the deformation martensite exhibited a strong {223}<110> texture component along with remarkable γ-fibre, <111>∥ND, with a maximum at {111}<211>. The grain refinement during cold rolling led to substantial strengthening, which could be expressed by a summation of the austenite and martensite strengthening contributions.     

Crystallographic analysis of martensitic transformation in an iron-nickel alloy with twinned martensite

A variant of the crystallographic theory of martensitic transformations is proposed, based on a mechanism of lattice deformation in which the angle of rotation of a martensite plate is reduced to a minimum. In an iron-nickel alloy with twinned martensite, the least angle of rotation corresponds to the deformation of the austenite lattice by shear on the (111) plane in the $\left[ {11\bar 2} \right]$ direction proposed by Kurdyumov and Sachs as the first shear in the two-shear theory of martensite formation in steel.     

Heusler合金Mn2NiGe磁性形状记忆效应的第一性原理预测

运用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理,对Hg₂CuTi型Mn₂NiGe的四方变形、晶体结构、磁性、电子结构、压力响应等进行了计算.计算结果表明: 1)在由立方结构至四方结构的转变中,在c/a约为1.34处存在一个稳定的马氏体相;2)在奥氏体态和马氏体态下,Mn原子均是Mn₂NiGe总磁矩的主要贡献者,但Mn(A),Mn(B)原子磁矩的值不等且呈反平行耦合,因而Mn₂N 关键词： 第一性原理 磁性形状记忆 四方变形 马氏体相变     

Hall effect in a martensitic transformation in Ni-Co-Mn-In Heusler alloys

The Hall effect, transverse magnetoresistance, and magnetization of Ni₄₈Co₂Mn₃₅In₁₅ Heusler alloys have been studied at T = 77–300 K in magnetic fields up to 15 kOe. It has been shown that a martensitic transformation is accompanied by a change in the sign of the constant of the ordinary Hall effect, which means a strong change in the electronic spectrum in the martensitic transformation, while the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) constant is positive in both the austenite and martensite phases. In both phases, there are no correlations between the AHE constant and the square of the resistivity, which are characteristic of the side jump mechanism in the AHE theory. In the near vicinity of the martensitic transformation, the field dependences of the Hall resistance are complex and nonmonotonic, indicating a change in the relative concentrations of the austenite and martensite phases in strong fields.     

Texture development and deformation mechanisms during uniaxial straining of U–Nb shape-memory alloys

The shape–memory effect is well documented in uranium–niobium alloys near the α″–γ^o metastable phase boundary. In situ neutron diffraction measurements during uniaxial loading indicate that U–14?at.%?Nb (in the α″ monoclinic phase field) deforms by stress–induced twin reorientation. Alternatively, U–16?at.%?Nb (initially γ^o tetragonal) undergoes a stress–induced phase transformation to the α″ monoclinic phase. The crystallographic texture of the monoclinic phase of both compositions has been measured and qualitatively interpreted by considering the orientation relationship between the most favoured α′′ variant and the parent phase. In addition, previously published observations of deformation structures within the shape–memory regime of a U–13?at.%?Nb alloy are discussed within the context of the same model.     

Phase transformation studies in unirradiated and proton beam irradiated Ni–Ti alloy between 25 and 100°C

The stress-induced phase transformation characteristics of unirradiated and proton beam irradiated NiTi alloy were investigated at different tests temperatures. The wire-shaped NiTi specimens were irradiated by 2?MeV proton beam for 30?min at room temperature to a flux of 10¹⁹ protons/m² s. Engineering stress–strain (S-S) curves of both unirradiated and irradiated specimens were obtained using a materials testing machine at 25, 50, 75 and 100°C. The results indicate a single-stage phase transformation from austenite to martensite (B2–B19′) in unirraidated specimens at all the test temperatures. In contrast, in the case of the irradiated specimens, a two-stage austenite–rhombohedral–martensite (B2–R–B19′) phase transformation is observed at 25 and 50°C. The B2–R–B19′ phase transformation, however, is found to change into B2–B19′ transformation at 75 and 100°C. The stress required to initiate the B19′ phase transformation (σ_MS) and the plateau range are found to be lower in irradiated specimens compared with those of the unirradiated specimens. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of the formation of Ni₄Ti₃ precipitates in irradiated specimens and their consequences on the phase transformations.     

Crystallographic analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>2 → <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>19′ martensite transformation in titanium nickelide

A phenomenological theory of martensite transformation is used to determine (select) the mechanism of B2 → B19′ transformation. The most realistic mechanism corresponds to the minimum additional rotation of a martensite plate needed to maintain the invariance of the habit plane. Equal values of the macroscopic shear direction and extent, the habit plane, the deformation for the invariant lattice, and the general deformation of shape are obtained for four different deformations. However, the supplementary rotation for each option is different. The minimum angle of rotation is observed for deformation by a martensite transformation with {21-1}B2 plane shear in the 〈-11-1〉 direction.     

Atomic force microscopy study on microstructural changes by 'training' in Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloys

Microstructural changes after several cycles of the thermomechanical treatment consisting of a small deformation by stress-induced martensitic transformation (fcc to hcp) and subsequent reversion to austenite by heating (referred to as 'training') have been studied by atomic force microscopy in Fe-Mn-Si based shape memory alloys. Well-trained samples contain a uniform distribution of thin martensite plates of the same variant, the widths of which decrease with increasing number of the training cycles, and their distribution becomes more uniform. Such microstructural development by training originates mainly from extremely thin plates (about 1 nm thick) of hcp phase that are still retained together with stacking faults in the austenite even after heating far above the reverse transformation temperature. In the reverse transformation on heating, a martensite plate that looks as though it is apparently one plate is, in fact, split into very thin plates, which indicates that the plate actually consists of extremely thin martensite plates and these thin plates are reverse-transformed one after another by reverse movement of the Shockley partial dislocations at their tips. This mode of reverse transformation ensures a perfect shape memory effect.     

Structure and magnetism of Fe-rich nanostructured Fe–Ni metastable solid solutions

New futures on the physical properties of ferromagnetic FeNi alloys have been found combining in situ neutron diffraction experiments and magnetic measurements in mechanical milled Fe-rich Fe–Ni metastable solid solutions. Apart from the well-known Invar effect, on heating these materials are characterised by the existence of a first-order martensite–austenite transformation that takes place at some system-dependent temperature. On cooling, the transformation occurs at a lower temperature than on heating; for Fe₈₀Ni₂₀ the size of the effect being larger than 100 °C, much more than the values found in conventional FeNi alloys. These results are discussed considering intrinsic features as magnetovolume effects and/or extrinsic effects such as small grain size and the existence of defects.     

Stress-induced phase transformations in ⟨001⟩-oriented Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 crystals: Bilinear coupling of ferroelastic strain and ferroelectric polarization

The strain-stress ( k- σ) response characteristics of d001 -oriented crystals of Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 have been investigated. A stress-induced ferroelastic transformation has been observed under uniaxial stress. The k- σresponse was fitted with a Landau phenomenological model based upon a bilinear gradient coupling between ferroelastic strain and ferroelectric polarization.     

Behavior of the nickel-titanium alloys with the shape memory effect under conditions of shock wave loading

The behavior of the Ti_51.1Ni_48.9 and Ti_49.4Ni_50.6 alloys with shape memory effects has been studied under submicrosecond shock wave loading in the temperature range from −80 to 160°C, which includes both the regions of the stable state of the specimens in the austenite and martensite phases and the regions of thermoelastic martensitic transformations. The grain size of the studied alloys varies from initial values 15–30 to 0.05–0.30 μm. The dependences of the dynamic elastic limit on the temperature and on the elemental composition are similar to the dependences of the yield stress of these alloys under low strain rate loading. The rarefaction shock wave formation as a consequence of the pseudoelastic behavior of the alloy during a reversible martensitic transformation has been revealed. A decrease in the grain size leads to an increase in the dynamic elastic limit and decreases the temperatures of martensitic transformations.     

A study of morphological and compositional evolution of nanoprecipitates in the Zr–Nb system and their transformational behavior

The metastable transformational behavior (both martensitic and omega) along with compositional and morphological evolution of bcc β precipitates, dispersed in the hcp α matrix of a Zr–1 wt% Nb alloy, were studied as a function of temperature and time. The evolution of the chemical composition of the β phase suggested preference towards metastable compositions having Nb content higher than the equilibrium value. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the metastable chemical compositions are the driving force for the nucleation of such β precipitates. The β to martensite transformation was observed to be possible only if β precipitate size exceeded a critical value of 160?nm. Micromechanical modeling was performed to estimate the critical size of β precipitate required to induce martensite transformation and the model predictions were in close agreement with the experimental observations. The omega transformation, on the other hand, showed less size dependence.     

Crystallography of the tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in ceria-zirconia

A detailed understanding of the transformation toughening process in zirconia-containing ceramics requires the application of the crystallographic theory of martensitic transformation. Therefore, the crystallographic analysis of the tetragonal-to-monoclinic transformation in ceria-zirconia was performed by using both the infinitesimal deformation approach and Wechsler–Lieberman–Read phenomenological crystallographic theory. All crystallographic parameters such as the habit plane orientation, orientation relationship between the parent and product phases, the direction of the total shape deformation, the amount of the lattice invariant strain, etc. were calculated. The results obtained from the infinitesimal deformation approach were in agreement with those calculated from phenomenological crystallographic theory and also with experimental observations.