<p>Cu–Zn–Al alloys exhibit properties suitable for various technological applications which are limited by stabilization of the martensite phase. It has been established that by introducing a fourth alloying element, this stabilization can be reduced. In this work, the effect of Cu substitution with controlled amounts of Ni in a Cu-16 at%Zn-16 at%Al alloy was investigated, focusing on both, phase stability and aging behavior of martensite as a function of alloy composition. To provide insights into these attributes, an exhaustive analysis of transformation temperatures and martensite stabilization was carried out, using electrical resistance measurements, tensile testing, and microstructural examination across a range of Ni concentrations. Findings revealed a linear correlation between alloy composition and the martensitic transformation temperature, facilitating a refinement of existing predictive models. Additionally, the activation energy for martensite stabilization (<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="40830_2025_524_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="25" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$E_{A}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mi>A</mi> </msub> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) was also determined as a function of Ni concentration. A linear relationship between <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="40830_2025_524_Article_IEq2.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="25" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$E_{A}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mi>A</mi> </msub> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> and the composition of the alloy was determined to be the best correlation according to the observed behavior. Finally, the <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="40830_2025_524_Article_IEq3.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="27" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$L2_{1}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>L</mi> <msub> <mn>2</mn> <mn>1</mn> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> antiphase domain boundaries were analyzed, showing a reduction in domain size with increasing Ni content.</p>

Reduction of Martensite Stabilization and Refinement of the Transformation Temperature Formula in Cu–Zn–Al–Ni Alloys

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年2月7日

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V. Noseda Grau,
A. M. Condó,
J. L. Pelegrina

摘要

Cu–Zn–Al alloys exhibit properties suitable for various technological applications which are limited by stabilization of the martensite phase. It has been established that by introducing a fourth alloying element, this stabilization can be reduced. In this work, the effect of Cu substitution with controlled amounts of Ni in a Cu-16 at%Zn-16 at%Al alloy was investigated, focusing on both, phase stability and aging behavior of martensite as a function of alloy composition. To provide insights into these attributes, an exhaustive analysis of transformation temperatures and martensite stabilization was carried out, using electrical resistance measurements, tensile testing, and microstructural examination across a range of Ni concentrations. Findings revealed a linear correlation between alloy composition and the martensitic transformation temperature, facilitating a refinement of existing predictive models. Additionally, the activation energy for martensite stabilization ( $E_{A}$ $E_{A}$ ) was also determined as a function of Ni concentration. A linear relationship between $E_{A}$ $E_{A}$ and the composition of the alloy was determined to be the best correlation according to the observed behavior. Finally, the $L2_{1}$ $L 2_{1}$ antiphase domain boundaries were analyzed, showing a reduction in domain size with increasing Ni content.