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Research Article
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Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on

Microstructure, Shape Memory Effect and Hardness
Jafar Tahar. Al-Haidary, Ali Mundher Mustafa and Ahmed Aziz Hamza*
Department of Production Engineering and Metallurgy, University of Technology, Iraq

Abstract
Cu-13Al-0.545Be shape memory alloy are heat treatment at different temperature and time. The microstructure
of alloy after heat treatment at 850°C, 650°C and aging at 150°C ,450°C and 550°C for 2, 4 and 6 h study by optical
microscope and X-ray diffraction. Bending test is use to show effect of heat treatment on super-elastic and shape
memory effect.
Micro hardness test used to show effect of heat treatment on micro hardness .shape memory effect increase at
heat treatment 650°C and aging at 150°C, while at 450°C and 550°C will decrease because precipitate formation
rate rises with increase in temperature and time. The hardness and precipitates in the alloy increases with increasing
ageing duration. Higher ageing temperature avoids the imperfection by moving and filling the empty space thereby
hardens the alloy.

Keywords: Alloys; Materials; Thermomechanical; Stabilization For microstructure the samples are grinding using different wet
paper 120, 320, 500, 1000, 2000 and wishing with water ,polishing
Introduction with cloth diamond and lubricant using polishing device then samples
Previous investigations on Cu-(11.4-11.8 wt.%)Al shape memory wishing with water, etching with solution 5 g FeCl3,10 ml HCL and
Alloys with the addition of small quantities of beryllium have shown 100 ml H2O. Theses process is done in samples preparation at metal
that they exhibit the pseudo-elastic effect at room temperature, due to
the martensitic transformation from the b phase to 18R martensite.
Shape memory alloys are the metallic group of materials and these
materials are used in many application fields as it is capable of recovering
its initial shape when exposed to variation of temperature or stress.
Understanding of their microstructure and thermal behaviors has
brought a major impact on their applications, as in case of aerospace,
automotive and robotics components are needed to achieve further Figure 1: Oxford foundry master expert type chemical composition.
improvement in the properties as it require higher transformation
temperatures, The thermomechanical properties of Cu-Al-Be alloys
have been studied, and their use is highly promising for applications
as passive dampers of seismic energy in buildings and in bridges,
When these alloys are submitted to heat treatments like a slow cooling
from high temperature or an isothermal heating, the formation of
precipitates can be produced , and their presence can affect their shape
memory properties. Aged Cu-Al-Mn SMAs results in transformation
of β'1 martensite to γ'1 martensitic which leads to change in the shape
memory characteristics and transformation temperatures. Cu-Al-Mn
Alloys aged above 500°C does not show martensitic transformation,
because of formation of large quantities of precipitates. Cu-Al-Be alloys
show good strain recovery and shape memory effects. Microstructure of
as-cast specimens shows austenitic microstructure and after quenching Figure 2: Electric resistance box furnace type for aging samples.
same specimens shows completely lath martensitic microstructure [1-4].

Experimental Work
*Corresponding author: Ahmed Aziz Hamza, Department of Production
The alloy Cu-13Al%-0.545Be% was imported from France, Engineering and Metallurgy, Universty of Technology, Iraq, Tel: +964 790 144 9044;
Chemical composition analysis of Cu-Al-Be alloy was carried by E-mail: ah_azez1583@[Link]
oxford foundry expert type in central organization for standardization
Received November 03, 2017; Accepted November 22, 2017; Published
and quality control-Baghdad (Figure 1). Table 1 show chemical December 02, 2017
composition of Cu-Al-Be alloy.
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat
Homogenization at 800°C for 3 hour in electric box furnace and Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape Memory
Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398
betatization and quenching from 800°C in salt ice water. Heat treatment
at 650°C and aging at 150°C, 450°C and 550°C in electric box France Copyright: © 2017 Al-haidary JT, et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
for 2, 4 and 6 hour and quenching in ice water with salt Figure 2 shows unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
electric box furnace. original author and source are credited.

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 2 of 7

laboratory - production engineering and metallurgy - University of SME=θm/180

technology-Baghdad (Figure 3).
Where,
Types of phases in the alloys were determined by optical microscope
θe=angle recovered on unloading.
and using X-ray diffraction device type (shimadzu XRD-6000 X-Ray
diffractmeter) (Figure 4). θm=angle recovered on heating.
For Shape memory effect Bending test is use to show effect of heat Microhardness test used to show effect of heat treatment on
treatment on superelastic and shape memory effect. Wire specimen of microhardness. Heat treatment at different temperature, time and
alloy with dimensions 1.2 mm diameter and 50 mm length is used in quenching media led to effect on microstructure and phases therefore
this bending test (Figure 5). effect on microhardness (Figure 6).

Element Zn% Pb% Fe% Si% S% Sb% AL% Be% Cu%

Wt.% 0.003 0.0134 0.019 0.0242 0.0439 0.112 13 0.545 balance
Table 1: Chemical composition of Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloy.

Figure 3: (a) Electric disk rotary grinding, (b) polishing device (c) optical microscope for microstructure observation.

Figure 4: XRD 6000 shimadzu type.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram of bending test for measuring shape memory effect.

Figure 6: Micro Vickers hardness device models TH714 type.

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 3 of 7

HV=1.845P/d2 effected by 100 h at 220°C or 260°C. Beyond annealing for 200 h at

P=applied load, d=length of diagonal. theses temperature, martensite transformation degradation is noticed
caused by the precipitation phenomenon. Aging of martensite phase at
Result and Discussion 450°C will precpitate (α+γ2) phase according to phase diagram of Cu-
Al-Be, Increasing aging time led to increase amount of precipitate of γ2
Microstructure
have Cu9Al4 (high Aluminum content) and α (low aluminium content).
Heat treatment at 850°C at 3 h and quenching in ice water with aging at 550°C will precipitate martensiteand γ2 phase, increase aging
salt have plate of martensite phase. While microstructure of sample time led to increase amount of precipitate of γ2. Figures 7-16 shows
at 650°C at 2 hour was martensite and γ2 phase, at 4 and 6 h was
martensite phase at different magnifications [5-10].
martensite phase. The martensite transformation is not appreciably

β'1(Cu3Al) β'1(Cu3Al)

(a) (b)
Figure 7: Plate of martensite phase at different magnifactions by optical microscope. (a) at 10x and (b) at 40x.

Figure 8: X-ray diffraction of Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloy.

β'1(Cu3Al) β'1(Cu3Al)

(a) (b)

Β' 1(Cu3Al)

(c)
Figure 9: Effect of heat treatment on microstructure by optical microscope at magnification (10x). (a) 150°C 2 h salt ice water quenching (b) 150°C 4 h water
quenching (c) 150°C 6 h salt ice water quenching.

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 4 of 7

Figure 10: X-ray diffraction of Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloy that heat treatment at 150°C for 6 h and quenching in salt ice water.

α grain
γ2 grain α grain

γ2 grain

(a) (b)

γ2 grain α grain

(c)
Figure 11: Effect of heat treatment on microstructure by optical microscope at magnifaction (10x). (a) 450°C 2 h water quenching (b) 450°C 4 h water quenching
(c) 450°C 6 h water quenching.

Figure 12: X-ray diffraction of Cu-Al-Be shape memory that heat treatment at 450°C for 6 h and quenching in water.

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 5 of 7

γ2(Cu9Al4)
γ2(Cu9Al4)

(a) (b)

γ2(Cu9Al4)

(c)
Figure 13: Effect of heat treatment on microstructure by optical microscope at magnifaction (10x). (a) 550°C 2 h salt ice water quenching (d) 550°C 4 h salt ice water
quenching (g) 550°C 6 h salt ice water quenching.

Figure 14: X-ray diffraction of Cu-Al-Be shape memory that heat treatment at 550°C for 6 h and quenching in salt ice water.

γ2(Cu9Al4) β' 1(Cu3Al) β' 1(Cu3Al)

(a) (b)

β'1(Cu3Al)

(c)
Figure 15: Effect of heat treatment on microstructure by optical microscope at magnification (10x). (a) 650°C 2 h salt ice water quenching (b) 650°C 4 h salt ice
water quenching (c) 650°C 6 h salt ice water quenching.

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 6 of 7

Figure 16: X-ray diffraction of Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloy that heat treatment at 650°C for 6 h and quenching in ice water.

Heat treatment d (mm) t (mm) θe θm SME%

Shape memory alloy 18 1.2 145 155 86
150°C 2 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 151 170 94
150°C 3 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 154 174 96
150°C 4 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 154 175 97
450°C 2 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 130 140 77
450°C 3 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 110 130 72
450°C 4 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 100 110 61
550°C 2 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 140 150 83
550°C 3 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 120 135 75
550°C 4 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 110 120 66
650°C 2 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 150 165 91
650°C 3 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 155 170 94
650°C 4 h ice water quenching 18 1.2 165 175 97
Table 2: Effect of heat treatment on shape memory effect.

Heat treatment HV
Shape memory alloy as received 178.76
Heat treatment at 150°C 2 h ice water quenching 165.23
Heat treatment at 150°C 4 h ice water quenching 220.06
Heat treatment at 150°C 6 h ice water quenching 226.43
Heat treatment at 450°C 2 h ice water quenching 233.53
Heat treatment at 450°C 4 h ice water quenching 253.16
Heat treatment at 450°C 6 h ice water quenching 257.4
Heat treatment at 550°C 2 h ice water quenching 238.5
Heat treatment at 550°C 4 h ice water quenching 249.1
Heat treatment at 550°C 6 h ice water quenching 313.16
Heat treatment at 650°C 2 h ice water quenching 224.63
Heat treatment at 650°C 4 h ice water quenching 217.76
Heat treatment at 650°C 6 h ice water quenching 216
Figure 17: Effect of aging time and temperature on shape memory effect.
Table 3: Effect of heat treatment on microhardness.
Shape memory effect Effect of heat treatment on microhardness
Effect on heat treatment on shape memory effect, shape memory
Vickers microhrdness of heat treatment alloy show increases
alloy as received have thick plate of martensite phase and when aging
with increasing aging time. The formation of precipitation increased
at 150°C that can effect on martensite plate by produced small and fine
with increase aging time. The imperfection that percent in the alloy
plate of martensite plate, which increase in shape memory effect than
will move and fill the empty space at higher temperature which
thick plate aging at 450°C martensite phase transform into γ2 and α
phase, increase aging time led to increase transform martensite phase hardens the alloy. Increase aging time at 150°C which led to increase
to γ2 and α phase that decrease shape memory effect. Aging at 550°C in microhardness because of martensite stabilization by precipitate,
also led to transform martensite phase into γ2 phase, increase aging change vacancy concentration during aging and change lattice
time led to increase transform martensite phase into γ2 phase that parameters of martensite phase. While increasing aging time at 450°C
decrease shape memory effect. when heat treatment at 650°C at 2 h which led to more decomposed of martensite phase to α and γ2 phase
produce γ2 and very fine plate of martensite phase, this very fine plate which led to increase in microhardness aging time at 550°C led to
martensite phase increase in shape memory effect and 3 and 4 hour decomposed in to γ2 phase and when increase aging time that increase
form fine martensite phase only without γ2 phase that cause increase γ2 phase which increase microhardness. Aging 2 h at 650°C that form
shape memory effect [11,12] (Table 2 and Figure 17). martensite and γ2 phase which increase microhardness, while aging

J Material Sci Eng, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000398

ISSN: 2169-0022
Citation: Al-haidary JT, Mastafa AM, Aziz Hamza A (2017) Effect of Heat Treatment of Cu-Al-Be Shape Memory Alloy on Microstructure, Shape
Memory Effect and Hardness. J Material Sci Eng 6: 398. doi: 10.4172/2169-0022.1000398

Page 7 of 7

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ISSN: 2169-0022