Oriented nanotwins induced by electric current pulses in Cu–Zn alloy

Abstract

After applying an electrical current pulse (ECP) to samples of Cu–Zn alloy, {111} oriented nanotwins parallel to the ECP direction in α phase grains have been observed at ambient temperature. It seems that (a) these samples have heated up to a temperature much higher than the α to β phase transformation temperature and (b) new β nuclei on the {110} planes have formed in the original α phase. As a result, with the samples being rapidly cooled, these oriented nanotwins will be formed with the β to α martensitic transformation.