Tension-compression asymmetry in Ni_45.3Ti_29.7Hf₂₀Pd₅ single crystals

It was experimentally shown that the reversible strain at the shape memory effect, the critical stress level of the martensite formation and the work output were determined by the stress state in [117]-oriented Ni_45.3Ti_29.7Hf₂₀Pd₅ (at. %) single crystals, which were quenched at 1173 K for 3 h. These single crystals demonstrate large values of the reversible strain (up to 5 %) and the work output (up to 27 J/sm³) under tensile stress level of 500 MPa. However, the reversible strain does not exceed 0.8 % under compressive stress levels of 600 MPa. The thermal hysteresis regarding the stress-induced martensitic transformation almost certainly does not depend on the stress state.