On the basis of positron lifetime and calorimetric measurements, the concentrations and natures of the defects which were introduced by quenching from various temperatures were studied, as well as their effect upon the martensitic transformation of a Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloy. It was noted that the main effect of quenching was to modify the concentrations of mono-vacancies in the system. The observed dependence of the thermodynamic properties (transition temperature, latent heat) of the martensitic transition upon the quenching temperature was explained in terms of the effective relative change in Be concentration, due to quenched-in vacancies.

R.Romero, A.Somoza, M.A.Jurado, A.Planes, L.Mañosa: Acta Materialia, 1997, 45[5], 2101-7