IMPROVEMENT OF THE SHAPE-MEMORY EFFECT OF A FE-MN-CR-SI-NI BY ORIGINAL THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENTS

Among the shape memory alloys, Fe-based have real perspectives of indu strial development. However, to acquire a good shape memory effect, th ese alloys must undergo a thermomechanical treatment. For applcation p erspective this treatment must be the simpliest as possible. In this p aper, two types of treatment have been performed, based of the fact th at: the formation of the martensite epsilon, responsible for the shape memory effect, is sensitive to the microstructure its reversibility i s the best as possible if the austenite is previously hardened by a de formation at high temperature.