Microstructure and high-temperature shape-memory effect in Ni54Mn25Ga21 alloy

Ni54Mn25Ga21 alloy was prepared to investigate the microstructure, martensitic transformation and high-temperature shape-memory effect. Ni54Mn25Ga21 alloy exhibits single phase of non-modulated martensite with tetragonal structure at room temperature. Its martensitic start temperature Ms, martensitic finish temperature Mf on cooling, and austenitic start temperature As, austenitic finish temperature Af on heating are 260.2, 237.8, 262.5 and 287.8 ℃, respectively. The compressive strength and strain of Ni54Mn25Ga21 single crystal were measured to be 845 MPa and 20.5%, respectively, with compressive axis along the growth direction of the rods. An excellent shape-memory strain of 6.1%, which is the best performance among high-temperature shape-memory alloys up to the present, is obtained when prestrained to 8%.