A shear transformation, the simplest form of martensitic transformation, proceeds by glide of groups of partial dislocations. HREM of the Laves phase TiCr2 reveals that the groups are, in effect, partial dislocation dipoles for the 2H ..-->.. 4H transformation. The origin of such dipoles is then examined in relation to the 2H ..-->.. 4H and 2H ..-->.. 6H/sub 1/ transformations with the conclusion that nucleation either within perfect crystal, from grain boundaries or from free surfaces is energetically feasible at least for 2H ..-->.. 4H.
DOE contract number: W-31-109-ENG-38 OSTI Identifier 5029765 Research organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Materials Science and Technology Div. Research organization: Arizona State Univ., Tempe (USA). Dept. of Physics. Research organization: IBM Corp., Tucson, AZ (USA).