Abstract:The reverse shape memory effect in an air cooled Fe43.6Mn34.7Al13.4Ni8.3 alloy after solution treatment at 1 150 ℃ for 10 min was investigated by optical metallography, XRD and thermal dilatometer. Results showed that the air cooled Fe43.6Mn34.7Al13.4Ni8.3 alloy presented an obvious reverse shape memory effect when the heating temperatures were between 400 ℃ and 700 ℃. The reverse shape memory effect derives from the α→γ transformation. During this phase transformation, the lath γ phase precipitated along the γ′ martensite and the needle γ phase precipitated along a certain angle with the γ′ martensite were much more beneficial for the reverse shape memory effect than the vermiculate γ phase.