Martensitic transformations studied by the measurement of thermoelectric properties

Abstract

It is proposed that the measurement of thermoelectric properties, specifically the Seebeck coefficient, of metals and alloys is a very useful and promising tool for the study of phase transitions, especially of martensitic transformations. Results of measurement on Ti-Ni family shape memory alloys and metastable austenitic stainless steel SUS301 are presented and compared with other properties such as the electrical resistivity or internal friction, which are influenced by the phase transition and can be used to study the phase transitions. It is concluded that the measurement of thermoelectric properties seems a very useful and cogent tool in the investigation of the behaviors of martensitic transformations. Discussions are made on the behavior of Seebeck coefficient based on the calculated density of states of electrons for various phases of Ti-Ni alloy.