An x-ray diffraction study of the reversible deformation inodes associated with the shape memory effect has been carried out on a series of uranium-niobium alloys near the monotectoid composition (6.2 wt. % Nb). Diffraction patterns were measured as a function of strain, in situ, while the specimens were under stress as part of an attempt to explain the “easy-flow”, low-strain plateau in the stress-strain curve. The alloys, consisting of highly twinned, metastable α” (monoclinic) and γ° (tetragonal) phases derived from the high-temperature BCC γ phase, produced broad, overlapping diffraction lines difficult to analyze by conventional techniques. One solution to this problem was to use a segmented step-scan technique so as to apportion the scan time to concentrate on the most difficult regions. This paper discusses data obtained from an α” alloy and a dual-phase α” + γ° alloy.
High-energy synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction measurements during in situ aging of a NiTi-15 at. % Hf high temperature shape memory alloy