Stress induced martensitic transformation and shape memory effect in Zr-Nb-Sn alloys

In order to develop biomedical shape memory alloys with high biocompatibility and magnetic resonance imaging compatibility, novel Zr-based alloys were designed and investigated to clarify their microstructure and mechanical properties. This study, for the first time, reports that Zr-Nb-Sn alloys exhibit shape memory effect and superelasticity by adjustment of Nb and Sn contents. The stress induced martensitic transformation from a beta phase to an alpha '' phase was confirmed to occur in Zr-Nb-Sn alloys. The basic crystallographic characteristics of stress-induced martensitic transformation, such as crystal structure of martensite phase and orientation relationships between the two phases, in Zr-Nb-Sn alloys were examined. (C) 2018 Acta Materialia Inc Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.