On a well-ordered β phase Cu–Zn–Al single crystal, the vacancy influence on martensitic stabilization was studied by compression tests. Systematic studies on the influence of stabilization time, temperature, and the influence of the vacancy concentration on the stabilization process showed that the characteristic time for stabilization and vacancy migration were several orders of magnitude different. It was found that only a small fraction of the initial vacancy concentration contributed to the process and that the remnant vacancies were unable to promote further stabilization. A model was proposed witch could reproduce the essential features of isothermal martensite stabilization.

Vacancy Influence on the Stabilization of Martensitic Cu–Zn–Al Single Crystals. M.Stipcich, R.Romero: Materials Science and Engineering A, 2006, 437[2], 328-33