STABILITIY OF MARTENSITE IN Cu-Zn-Al SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY AFTER DIRECT OR STEPPED QUENCHING

The stability of thermoelastic martensite in a Cu-14.84 wt-%Zn-7.75 wt-%Al shape mem- ory alloy with M_s=106°C after direct quenching or stepped quenching has been investigated by using TEM,X-ray diffroctometer and double electric bridge instrument.The martensite aged for about 3 h at room temperature after either direct quenching or stepped quenching (150°C,2 rain)is the M18R structure.The martensite just directly quenched is not so stable, both its certain diffraction peaks and specific electric resistivity,change with aging at room temperature;whereas it is stable after stepped quenching(150°C.2 min),and its diffraction peaks and specific electric resistivity change no more with aging at room temperature.The above mentioned results seem to be explained by the martensite reordering.