Abstract: Molten Cu-13Al and Cu-13Al-4Ni (mass fraction) alloys have been investigated using X-ray diffraction method. A distinct pre-peak has been found in the structure factors. The pre-peak increases its intensity with decreasing temperature and addition of Ni. The structural unit size corresponding to the pre-peak equals to magnitude of (111) planar distance of β phase. The appearance of a pre-peak is due to existence of clusters with $\beta$-phase-like structure in melt. Quantity and size of clusters increase with decreasing temperature but their structural unit size remains constant. Cu-13Al-4Ni shape memory alloy ribbons can be fabricated by rapid solidification technique. Order degree of martensite and temperature of the reverse martensitic transformation increase with decreasing liquid quenching temperature. β phase particles develop from incorporating and growing of the clusters during solidification, thus result in the correlation between liquid structure and solid transformation

Key words: CuAlNi alloy, Liquid structure, Shape memory alloy, X-ray diffraction