Influence of compositional ratio on microstructure and martensitic transformation of CuZr shape memory alloys

• Calorimetric and microstructural properties of the binary system were studied.
• Microstructure was studied using XRD and SEM in function of the Cu/Zr atomic ratio.
• Martensitic transformation was put in correlation with the Cu/Zr atomic ratio.
• Equiatomic composition is shown to have more interesting properties.
• This study can help next investigations when other elements are added in this system.

In the present work the effect of Cu/Zr atomic ratio on structural and calorimetric properties of this high temperature shape memory alloy (HTSMA) is studied. It has been discussed the changes induced by Cu/Zr ratio on the martensitic transformation temperatures and the corresponding transformation heats coupled with the phases microstructure. The modification of the Cu content in the range ±2% at, around the equiatomic composition, does not drastically change the thermal properties of the alloys. Moreover, the Cu/Zr ratio strongly influences the microstructure in terms of the presence and amount of the other characteristic phases, Cu10Zr7 and CuZr2, in the place of the CuZr phase. The understanding of the basic properties of the binary system can be of great help for further investigations on CuZr based systems with other alloying elements.