| Abstract Scope |
Understanding microstructural dynamics under non-isothermal annealing is crucial for the manufacture of shape memory alloys (SMAs). This study examines how stored strain energy influences grain growth in a model CuAlMn SMA. Using synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction microscopy (HEDM), we map grains and precipitates in 3D over time, analyzing strain, grain boundary curvatures, and the relation between the two. We quenched the sample at three time-points in the heat treatment to acquire data. To complement these experiments, corresponding phase-field simulations address spatiotemporal gaps in the HEDM data. Departures from experimental observations, e.g., more compact grains, serve to highlight unique features associated with strain-energy-driven growth. Our combined experiments and simulations reveal significant variations in grain sizes, shapes, strains, and boundary curvatures over the course of the non-isothermal anneal. This work underscores the complexities of microstructural dynamics driven by stored strain energy, which are not fully captured by conventional theories or metallographic analysis. |