J. Phys. IV France
112
(2003)
171
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2003858
Crystallography and interfacial structure of twinned shape memory martensite
D. Dunne and D. Liu Department of Materials Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia
Abstract
This paper reports observations of the interface and surface relief of twinned martensite in a Cu-14wt%Al -3.4wt%Ni shape
memory alloy. The transformation in this alloy is from ordered cubic DO3 parent phase (
) to 2H (orthorhombic) martensite (
) with
Type II transformation twins.
Optical and atomic force microscopy were used to study single isolated plates. These plates
consisted of lamellae of martensite "parent" (A) and twin (B) volumes. The average width fraction of Twin A was 0.667, close
to the theoretical value of 0.698. Although twin relief was generally evident in the random sections examined, well defined
interfacial facets corresponding to the terminating twin volumes were not observed. Instead, side-plates extending beyond
the habit plane were common, being associated with the smaller of the two twin volumes (Twin B). This structural feature was
common to both thermal and stress-induced martensite. The twin interface plane was close to a habit plane variant, and the
extension of the twin ahead of the general interface, with its own twinned substructure, is inferred to be related to the
need to accommodate localised interfacial misfit. Analysis of the crystallography of the transformation indicated that two
distinct solutions are possible, adding to the flexibility of the transformation in accommodating forces applied during shape
memory and superelastic cycling.
© EDP Sciences 2003