Martensitic transformation and shape memory effect of a Ni–Fe–Ga polycrystalline alloy

Abstract The martensitic transformation and shape memory effect of Ni—23.9 wt%–Fe—28.7 wt%Ga polycrystalline alloy are studied in the present paper. It is shown that martensitic transformation temperatures and its reverse transformation temperatures are all raised by annealing treatment. A large reversible transformation strain, about 2100ppm, is obtained in Ni—23.9 wt%–Fe—28.7 wt%Ga polycrystalline alloy due to martensitic transformation and its reverse transformation. This transformation strain is also increased by the external magnetic field. It is believed that the effect of field on the preferential orientation of martensitic variants when transforming increases the transformation strain.