Effects of Composition and Thermal Treatment of Cu-Al-Zn Alloys with Low Content of Al on their Shape-memory Properties

Abstract

Two Cu-Zn-Al alloys with variable content of Zn (25 and 30 wt%) and constant Al content (4 wt%) prepared by induction melting of pure metals and hot rolled into strips of 0.5 mm thickness were thermally processed by using three different heat treatments: direct quenching, step-quenching and up-quenching with boiling water and room temperature water as the quenchants. The effects of composition and different methods of heat treatment on the microstructure and transformation temperatures of the investigated Cu-Zn-Al alloys were investigated using SEM-EDS and DSC techniques.

Keywords:
Shape memory alloy; Cu-Zn-Al system; Microstructure; DSC

1. Introduction

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are group of alloys which can recover their shape when they are heated above a certain temperature¹. The shape memory effect is based on martensitic transformation (MT) which is a diffusionless and reversible phase transformation^2-4. It occurs between the high-temperature austenite phase (β) and the low-temperature martensite phase (β')^3-4.

It is well known that many copper alloys such as Cu-Al, Cu-Zn-Al, Cu-Al-Ni and Cu-Al-Mn exhibit shape memory properties^5-7. Cu-based SMAs have attracted much attention due to their good shape memory capacity, narrow temperature region of transformation, ease of fabrication and low production cost⁸.

For the alloys of the ternary Cu-Zn-Al system, the shape memory effect is only observed within a certain range of composition which generally contains 16 to 30% of Zn and 4 to 8% of Al³. Depending on alloy composition and temperature, three equilibrium phases (α, β and γ) may occur. However, β phase is the only phase that exhibits the shape memory effect of practical importance. The β phase in the Cu-Zn-Al alloys is disordered at high temperatures and has a bcc lattice^3,4. During the cooling process and depending on the alloy composition the parent β-phase can order in two different superlattice structures β₂ (B2) and β₃ (L21)^3,4. By stress-induced or thermally, the β₂ or β₃ austenite phases transform into the β₂' or β₃' martensitic phases^3,4. Cu-Zn-Al alloys are usually quenched to retain the β phase for further transformation to martensite⁹.

In this work the shape memory characteristics of two Cu-Zn-Al alloys with constant content of aluminium (4 wt.%) and variable content of zinc (25 and 30 wt.%) were studied. Thus, the focus of the current study was on the Cu-Zn-Al SMAs with low content of aluminium. Effects of composition and thermal processing on the microstructure and transformation temperatures of the investigated alloys were investigated using SEM-EDS and DSC.

2. Experimental Procedure

Two Cu-Zn-Al alloys with the nominal compositions Cu-25%Zn-4%Al and Cu-30%Zn-4%Al were prepared by induction melting of calculated quantities of pure (99.9%) copper, zinc and aluminium under a charcoal cover. The alloys were cast into graphite moulds and ingots in the form of cylindrical bars with about 1 cm diameter and 10 cm length were produced. The ingots were hot rolled into 0.5 mm thick strips (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
Investigated Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy strip.

Heat treatments of prepared Cu-Zn-Al strips included β-solutionizing at 850 ºC for 30 minutes followed by:

1) direct quenching into room temperature water;

2) up-quenching - quenching into room temperature water with subsequent ageing at 100 ºC for 30 minutes before quenching again into water at room temperature;

3) step-quenching - quenching into boiling water at 100ºC, remaining at this temperature for 15 minutes and finally cooled in room temperature water;

Samples used for the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations were mechanically grinded and polished. Subsequently, they were etched with a solution containing 2.5 g FeCl₃ · 6H₂O and 1 ml HCl in 48 ml methanol.

TESCAN VEGA3 scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (Oxford Instruments X-act) was used for microstructure investigation of the prepared alloys and the analysis was carried out at 20 kV. Overall compositions and compositions of coexisting phases were determined using EDS area and point analysis.

Overall chemical compositions of the investigated Cu-Zn-Al alloys in the as-cast state and after heat treatments were checked using EDS area analysis. Experimentally determined compositions of the investigated alloys (Cu-24.9±0.5Zn-4.1±0.2Al and Cu-30.0±0.4Zn-4.2±0.3Al (in wt.%)) were in good agreement with their nominal compositions.

Transformation temperatures were determined by SDT Q600 (TA Instruments) simultaneous DSC/TGA analyzer. DSC measurements were done in argon atmosphere through 3 heating runs from room temperature to 100 ºC with heating rate 5 ºC/min.

Martensitic transformation temperatures for directly quenched sample were studied on DSC analyzer Mettler Toledo 822e. Measurements were done in inert atmosphere, through 2 heating/cooling cycles from -50 to 200 ºC with heating/cooling rates 10 ºC/min.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Phase equilibria calculations

Fig. 2 shows liquidus projection and phase diagram at 800 ºC of the Cu-Zn-Al system calculated using optimized thermodynamic parameters from Liang and Schmid-Fetzer¹⁰ and Pandat software¹¹ with marked overall compositions of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al and Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloys investigated in this study.

Figure 2
Calculated phase equilibria of the Cu-Zn-Al ternary system using optimized thermodynamic parameters from Liang and Schmid-Fetzer¹⁰ with marked overall compositions (squares) of the investigated Cu-25%Zn-4%Al and Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloys: (a) liquidus projection; (b) phase diagram at 800 ºC.

From Fig. 2a it can be seen that overall compositions of both investigated alloys belong to the primary crystallization field of β (Bcc) phase.

Also, according to the calculated phase diagram of the Cu-Zn-Al ternary system at 800 ºC presented in Fig. 2b, overall compositions of both investigated alloys are situated in the single β (Bcc) phase region although the composition of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al is very close to the α + β (Fcc+Bcc) two-phase region.

3.2 Microstructures of as-cast alloys

Microstructures and phase compositions of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al and Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloys in the as-cast states (ingot samples) were investigated using SEM-EDS. Based on the obtained results it was determined that as-cast Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy has two-phase α+β (Fcc+Bcc) microstructure (Fig. 3a). Microstructure of the as-cast Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy includes dendritic α particles with an Fcc structure irregularly distributed in the β matrix. As-cast Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy has single β (Bcc) phase microstructure (Fig. 3b). SEM microphotographs of the investigated alloys in the as-cast states are shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 3
SEM micrographs of investigated alloys in the as-cast state: (a) Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy, (b) Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy.

3.3 Microstructures of the heat treated alloys

The microstructure of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al strip after direct quenching, up-quenching and step-quenching is shown in Figs. 4(a)-(c).

Figure 4
SEM micrograph of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al strip alloy after: (a) direct quenching, (b) up-quenching, (c) step-quenching.

Samples of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy strip that were directly quenched into water at room temperature and up-quenched show microstructures that are fully martensitic (Figs. 4a and 4b). Martensitic plates are formed in a V-shape in some grains while they occur needle-like in others^12,13. However, microstructure of the of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al sample that were step-quenched into boiling water for 15 minutes and subsequently cooled in the room temperature water beside martensite phase also includes very fine precipitates of the α phase situated along the grain boundaries and inside the grains (Fig. 4c). The obtained martensitic microstructures are very similar to those reported by Aldirmaz et al.¹³ and De Araújo and Gonzalez¹⁴ for the alloys with chemical compositions very close to the composition of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy.

Fig. 5 shows the microstructures of the Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy after direct quenching, up-quenching and step-quenching.

Figure 5
SEM micrograph of the Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy after: (a) direct quenching, (b) up-quenching, (c) step-quenching.

As it can be seen from Fig. 5 martensite was not obtained in any of the three differently heat treated samples of the Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy. Microstructures of the samples were fully austenite (parent β phase), the same as the microstructure of the corresponding alloy in the as-cast condition. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the martensite start (Ms) temperature for the Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy is below room temperature.

3.4 Thermal analysis of heat-treated Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy

Austenite start and finish temperatures (As and Af) for three differently heat-treated samples of the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al strip alloy with identified martensitic structures were determined by means of DSC technique.

DSC study was performed several days after the heat-treatments using a SDT Q600 (TA Instruments) simultaneous DSC/TGA analyzer. Samples for the DSC measurements were in the compact thin flat forms which were cut from the heat treated strips. The mass of the investigated samples was about 50 mg. DSC measurements were carried out in three heating runs from room temperature to 100 ºC maintaining a constant heating rate of 5 ºC/min.

Fig. 6 shows obtained DSC curves for three heating runs for directly quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al sample with determined austenite start and finish temperatures.

Figure 6
DSC thermogram for directly quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy first heating run; (b) second heating run; (c) third heating run.

Austenite start temperature (As) was obtained as the temperature of the extrapolated peak onset while the austenite finish temperature (Af) was determined as the peak endset temperature on heating.

Summary results of DSC analysis are presented in Table 1.

Table 1
Austenite start and finish temperatures and enthalpy of martensite→austenite transformation obtained by DSC analysis

Sample	Transformation temperatures (ºC)						Average enthalpy of transformation (J/g)
	1. heating run		2. heating run		3. heating run
	As	Af	As	Af	As	Af
1 (directly quenched alloy)	33.3	53.1	36.0	59.5	36.0	57.2	0.50
2 (up-quenched alloy)	34.2	54.3	34.8	55.7	35.2	56.3	0.49
3 (step-quenched alloy)	32.5	51.3	33.6	54.0	37.8	56.1	0.47

From Table 1 it can be seen that the determined austenite transformation temperature intervals span between 30 to 60 ºC. Austenite start and finish temperatures are slightly shifted to the higher values after the first heating run in all three cases. Obtained transformation temperatures for the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy determined in this work are somewhat lower than the results of Oliveira et al.¹⁵, obtained for the commercial SMA wire with the nominal composition Cu-25.3%Zn-4%Al and 0.9 mm diameter, and Prakash and Harchekar¹⁶, who reported a recovery temperature (As) of about 65 ºC for the Cu-26%Zn-4%Al alloy wire. Average enthalpy values of austenitic transformations based on the three heating runs were 0.50 J/g for directly quenched alloy, 0.49 J/g for the up-quenched alloy and 0.47 J/g for the step-quenched alloy.

DSC study of the directly quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy has been additionally performed on DSC analyzer Mettler Toledo 822e in two thermal cycles from -50 to 200 ºC maintaining a constant heating/cooling rate of 10 ºC/min.

Transformation temperatures obtained on heating were in agreement with the results obtained using SDT Q600 device. However, two distinct exothermic peaks were detected during cooling runs.

Fig. 7 shows DSC curve from the second cooling run. The first transformation is detected as a smaller peak starting at Ms=41.9 ºC and finishing at Mf= 17.0 ºC. The second transformation, which starts at Ms'=10.5 ºC and finishes at Mf'= -25.1 ºC, corresponds to a bigger peak on the DSC curve. These results imply that martensitic transformation occurs in two steps during cooling.

Figure 7
Second DSC cooling run for directly quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy.

4. Conclusion

The effects of heat-treatment on the microstructure and phase transformations of Cu-25%Zn-4%Al and Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloys were investigated in this work. The alloys were prepared by induction melting of pure metals and hot rolled into the 0.5 mm thick strips. Obtained alloy strips were subjected to three different heat treatment procedures: direct quenching, step-quenching and up-quenching with boiling water and room temperature water as the quenchants.

Based on the results of microstructure and thermal analysis investigations following conclusions can be made:

1. Microstructure of the as-cast Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy consists of β phase in the base and a considerable amount of irregular dendritic α particles with an FCC structure distributed in the β matrix.

   Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy in the as-cast state has single-phase microstructure which includes large polygonal grains of β phase.

2. Direct quenching and up-quenching produce fully martensitic microstructure in the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy. Martensite was also induced by step-quenching, but microstructure of the step-quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al sample also includes small precipitate particles of α phase.

3. Neither one of three heat-treatments performed in this work did not induce martensite in the Cu-30%Zn-4%Al alloy. These results suggest that the martensite start temperature (Ms) for this alloy is below room temperature.

4. Austenite start and finish transformation temperatures (As, Af) of differently heat-treated Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy were investigated using DSC technique. It was determined that martensite to austenite transformation for the Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy occurs in the temperature range from approximately 30 to 60 ºC. Comparison between obtained values of As and Af temperatures revealed small influence of applied heat-treatment processes on austenite start and finish temperatures.

5. Two close thermal effects in the temperature interval from 42 to -25 ºC were detected during the DSC cooling runs of directly quenched Cu-25%Zn-4%Al alloy. These could be due to the formation of different martensitic structures.

5. Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, under Project ON 172037. Also, this study was done in the frame of the bilateral project between University of Belgrade, Technical Faculty in Bor (Serbia) and University of Zagreb, Metallurgical faculty in Sisak (Croatia), entitled "Razvoj karakterizacija inovativnih legura sa efektom pamćenja oblika iz sistema Cu-Al-Mn-Me (Me=Ag, Au, Ce)". This work has been supported in part by Croatian Science Foundation under the project IP-2014-09-3405.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 Aug 2017
• Date of issue
  Sep-Oct 2017

History

• Received
  25 Jan 2017
• Reviewed
  10 June 2017
• Accepted
  21 July 2017