The effect of thermal cycling on the martensitic transformation in equiatomic CuZr shape memory alloy

This work highlights the lack of stability of the martensitic transformation (MT) upon thermal cycling of equiatomic CuZr shape memory alloy (SMA). The initial MT taking place at high temperature is inhibited within 10 thermal cycles, whilst a low temperature transformation (at -20 °C) is established. The MT evolution is observed through DSC and XRD measurements and SEM observations. Its reversible character and the limited thermal hysteresis suggest a new low-temperature MT in CuZr intermetallic SMA compound.