Electrical resistance behaviour of Fe–24 wt.%Mn alloy under high pressure

Electrical resistance behaviour of Fe–24 wt.%Mn SMA was studied up to a pressure of ∼6 GPa by using an opposed anvil high pressure device. The system shows a steep rise in resistance up to ∼1 GPa and thereafter a monotonic decrease up to ∼6 GPa during the forward cycle, whereas it shows a monotonic increase during the return cycle. XRD studies of the as-prepared and pressure quenched samples show a mixed α, γ and ε phase in the former and a predominantly ε phase in the latter, indicative of a possible structural transition at ∼1 GPa, as evidenced from the resistance maximum. The decrease in the transition pressure, when compared with alloys of lower Mn concentration, provides a clue that it should be possible to further reduce the transition pressure to the predominantly ε phase by alloying with suitable elements, which may have positive effect on the shape memory of the alloy.