Stress-induced Martensitic Transformation of Small Fe-Co Particles in a Cu Matrix

Abstract

The f.c.c. to b.c.c. martensitic transformation in small coherent Fe-Co particles has been induced by applying external stress to single crystals of a Cu-Fe-Co alloy without activating crystal dislocations. Orientation of the stress-induced martensite variants is sensitively dependent on the direction ([416]_f or [001]_f) and sense (tension or compression) of the applied stress. The experimental results can be well explained by postulating that the applied stress helps the lattice shear deformation involved in the f.c.c. to b.c.c. lattice change.