Mechanical cycling effects at Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–Ni SMAs obtained by powder metallurgy

Abstract

AbstractSpecimens from Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–Ni SMA, obtained by powder metallurgy and compacted through hot rolling, were subjected to tensile loading-unloading cycles. The pseudoelastic parameters were determined based on recorded stress-strain curves, and their variation tendency with increasing the number of mechanical cycles was discussed. The gauges of tensile specimens were cut after mechanical cycling and were subjected to structural and dilatometric analysis. The structure was analyzed by XRD and SEM, aiming to reveal mechanical cycling effects. The thermomechanical response on heating, of mechanically cycled specimens, was recorded by dilatometry and revealed a tendency to enhance thermal expansion as an effect of increasing the number of cycles. The microstructural changes, induced by mechanical cycling, consisted in the stress induced formation of α’ martensite.