Effect of Nitrogen Addition on Shape Memory Characteristics of Fe-Mn-Si-Cr Alloy

Nitrogen-microalloying and partial substitution of Cr for Mn have been employed to enhance the shape memory effect and corrosion resistance of Fe–Mn–Si based alloys. Typically, the tested alloys with nominal composition Fe–25Mn–6Si–5Cr–(0.12–0.14)N in mass% exhibit perfect shape recovery for a 3% pre-strain after only one cycle of thermomechanical training. The related mechanism has been discussed, taking account of the effect of nitrogen on the stacking fault energy (SFE) or the stacking fault probability ( Psf) of the alloy and the strengthening of the austenite matrix. Thermodynamic calculation and Psf measurement showed that the SFE increases with increasing N-content in the concentration range investigated, e.g. less than 0.3 mass%. Thus, the critical stress for the formation of stress-induced martensite increases with N-content. It is believed that the interstitial strengthening of the matrix by nitrogen predominantly contributes to the improvement of shape memory effect. Besides, nitrogen-microalloying remarkably improves the corrosion resistance of the alloys in aqueous solutions containing NaOH and NaCl, but not in HCl solution as indicated by the long-term immersion tests.