Formation of texture and anisotropy of shape memory effect in Fe-Mn-Si-Co-Cr alloy

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the anisotropy of shape memory effect in Fe-based alloy. An Fe-15Mn-3Si4Co-5Cr alloy is cold rolled by 92%, and annealed at 630degreesC for 45min. The alloy undergoes gamma-->epsilon-->alpha transformation by cold rolling and gamma is restored with a major preferred orientation of (110) gamma [001] gamma by the annealing. The specimens for shape memory effect and tensile test are taken 0, 45, 70, 80 and 90 degs to the rolling direction. The specimen taken along 70 degs to the rolling direction exhibits the best shape memory effect. An analysis of the (110)gamma [001]gamma texture reveals that the specimen experiences the deformation stress along [221]gamma which is the most expandable direction in the gamma-->epsilon transformation, In tensile test, the best SME specimen shows the lowest yield stress, indicating that the transformation take place most easily since the deformation is applied to the preferential direction to the transformation.