The stress-induced martensitic transformation and superelasticity in a βCu–Zn alloy containing α1 plates

The stress-induced martensitic transformation and superelasticity effect in a βCu–Zn alloy containing α1 plates have been investigated. The results showed that the α1 plates have no obvious effect on the deformation behavior in the aged specimens. The deformation behavior was dominated by the formation of stress-induced martensite (SIM). The cyclic loading–unloading behaviors and characteristics of the aged specimens were dependent on the test temperatures, which are similar to that of single-phase specimens. In addition, the mechanism of superelasticity in the alloy containing α1 plates was not affected by the presence of the α1 plates. The α1 plates remain unchanged during stress cycling, which was independent of the test temperatures. The interface of SIM moved smoothly and was not hindered by the α1 plates during the reversible martensitic transformation on loading–unloading cycle. Upon loading, the SIM cannot penetrate the α1 plates ahead of them during their nucleation and growth, but may form the same variant on both sides of the α1 plate at the same time or in sequence.