Abstract

The use of etchant to study the evolution of epsilon-martensite on the stainless shape memory alloys (SME) it’s very important because the correct choice of etching can result not only in the identification of these phases as also in quantitative analysis. ln this work we presented some options of etchants that can be used to study the changes on the microstructure before and after the thermomechanical treatment. Using Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-Co alloys with different grains size as initial condition submitted at six- thermomechanical treatment, three etchant types are testing to analyze the Gamma(fcc)  Epsilon(hcp) martensitic transformation. The preliminary result shows that the color etching method is more indicate to revel the stress-induced martensite because such a phase has reveled with a color. But, for such condition (chemical composition, the volume fraction of phases, grain size) the composition etching will be adapted.