EELS study of the inverse martensitic transformation of 2H and 18R Cu-Al-Zn alloys

Changes in 3d states occupancy associated with the inverse martensitic transformation in two samples of Cu-Al-Zn alloys with 2H and 18R martensitic structures were investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The Cu L2,3 white-lines intensities, which reflect the unoccupied density of states in 3d bands, were measured in situ, during the phase transformation in both the martensite and austenite phases. We find that the white-lines intensity decreases during the inverse transformation, when going from martensite to austenite. Even though the initial 3d occupation numbers in 2H and 18R martensitic structures are different, after the transformation, the 3d occupation numbers in the now austenitic structure have decreased in both samples, indicating that some electrons left Cu 3d bands during phase transformation. Interestingly enough, the occupation numbers in the final phases, which have the same structure, reach the same value, indicating that changes in EELS spectra are a consequence of structural changes.