Influence of the matrix and of the thermal treatment on the martensitic transformation in metal matrix composites

New metal matrix composites were developed with a view to elaborating high-damping materials. These composites were produced by infiltrating a relatively high amount of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy particles with soft metallic matrices. Details on the processing method as well as on the composite microstructure are given in the present paper. An inverted torsion pendulum was used to determine the damping capacity tan δ. High damping values were measured, what implies a promising future for these composites as high-damping materials. The influence of thermal treatments on the microstructure and on the thermoelastic martensitic transformation is discussed. The damping capacity of these materials is associated with the mobility of the martensite interfaces, and a synergetic interaction between the particles and the matrices is suggested.