Improvement of shape memory effect in an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–Ni alloy fabricated by equal channel angular pressing

The effects of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and subsequent annealing on the microstructures, martensite transformation and shape memory effect (SME) in an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–Ni alloy were investigated. The results showed that the fined-grained Fe–Mn–Si–Cr–Ni shape memory alloy with the size of several microns was obtained by ECAP. The SME was improved to 95% when bent 4.33% at 200 K.