Mechanism of the shape memory effect in martensitic alloys: an assessment

The (one-way) shape memory effect is a phenomenon that when a martensitic alloy is deformed in a martensitic state it recovers its original shape upon heating to the parent phase. This is a universal effect for certain martensitic alloys. We will assess the mechanism of the effect critically and select the essential factors which govern the effect. We try to understand it from a unified view, invoking the group–subgroup symmetry relation between the parent and martensite phase, along with analysis of reversible twinning modes in martensite. By such an assessment, we will show why typical shape memory alloys, such as Ti–Ni, Cu–Al–Ni etc., exhibit good shape memory characteristics, while others, such as ferrous alloys, do not. Thus, we will show that most of the shape memory characteristics of various martensitic alloys can be understood consistently from such an approach.