Effects of thermomechanical cycling on the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures of a Ni50.2Ti49.8 alloy

The effects of thermomechanical cycling on the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures of a Ni50.2Ti49.8 alloy under a constant applied stress of 300 MPa were investigated.It is believed that thermomechanical cycling induces defects such as dislocations,which evidently affect the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures.The recovery strain decreases with increasing number of thermomechanical cycles,whereas the irreversible plastic strain increases,especially in the initial few cycles.The stored elastic strain energy has an important influence on transformation temperatures,the Aso decreases and the Mso increases with increasing number of thermornechanical cycles.The recovery strain,irreversible plastic strain,Aso,and Mso reach a saturation value after several cycles.     

低应力／应变幅控制的对称拉压疲劳对Ti—49.6Ni合金相变行为的影响

采用电阻法研究了TiNi形状记忆合金在对称拉压应力或应变疲劳条件下的相变行为,结果表明,经过低应力/应变疲劳,材料发生R相变,试样的相变温度变得稳定,马氏体相变温度Ms和逆相变温度As低于未疲劳试样,随着循环次数的增加,应变疲劳后材料的Ms点、As点与循环次数无明显关系,材料具有良好的相变稳定性。     

退火温度对淬火态Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni合金记忆效应的影响

研究了退火温度对淬火态预先存在热诱发ε马氏体的Fe-14Mn-5.5Si-8.0Cr-5.0Ni合金和无热诱发ε马氏体的Fe-19Mn-5.0Si-8.0Cr-6.0Ni合金记忆效应的影响。结果表明:预先存在热马氏体合金的形状回复率随退火温度的升高,先上升后下降,在500℃附近达到最大值。但无热马氏体存在合金的形状回复率随退火温度的变化却相反,在500℃附近达到最小值;两种合金的Ms温度都随退火温度的升高而下降,在500℃附近达到最低。预先存在热马氏体的合金由于退火后Ms温度的降低,减少了热诱发的马氏体量,因而形状记忆效应得到了提高;而无热马氏体存在的合金由于退火后Ms温度的进一步下降,使得应力诱发马氏体转变更不容易发生,因此形状记忆效应反而下降。     

Investigation of Bending Trainings, Transformation Temperatures, and Stability of Two-Way Shape Memory Effect in NiTi-Based Ribbons

This paper discusses the application of rapid solidification by the melt-spinning method for the preparation of thin NiTi-based ribbons. Generally, the application of rapid solidification via melt-spinning can change the microstructure, improving the ductility and shape memory characteristics and lead to small-dimensioned samples. Several thousand thermal cycles were performed on the trained ribbons using bending deformation procedure, continuously observing the changes in the shape memory and transformation behaviors. These changes are due to the appearance of an intermediate phase which was stabilized probably by the accumulation of defects introduced by thermomechanical training. The influence of training and thermal cycling on characteristics of ribbons was studied by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results displayed that bending training methods were useful in developing a two-way shape memory effect (TWSME). All samples show a shape memory effect immediately after processing without further heat treatment. The addition of copper in NiTi alloys was effective to narrow the transformation hysteresis. The W addition has improved the stability of the TWSME and mechanical properties. The TWSME of ribbons and its stability are well suited for important applications such as microsensors and microactuators.     

Actuator Response of Improved Two-Way Memory TiNi Wires Evaluated by Weight Fraction Diagrams

This paper experimentally studies the improvement in the actuator response of TiNi shape memory wires brought about by thermal treatments. Heat-treated TiNi wires were thermally cycled at zero stress before being trained by constant stress to develop the two-way shape memory effect. Subsequently, the work output of these two-way memory TiNi shape memory alloys are measured during repeated thermomechanical cycling under various levels of constant stress. Changes in the phase transformation behavior in two-way memory and thermomechanically cycled TiNi shape memory alloy wires are quantified by x-ray diffraction as a function of temperature. The weight fraction diagrams of TiNi wires thermally cycled at zero stress before they were trained suggests that during constant stress training they develop a lower quantity of R-phase than samples that have not been thermally cycled at zero stress before being trained. This gives thermally cycled TiNi samples higher levels of transformation strain and work output during thermomechanical cycling than samples that have not been thermally cycled before training. These results suggest that for the best material performance—that is, significant transformation strain and, consequently, substantial work output—the TiNi wire should be thermally cycled at zero stress before training.     

Effect of heat treatment on the transformation behavior and temperature memory effect in TiNiCu wires

The effect of heat treatment on the phase transformation behavior of TiNiCu shape memory alloy wires and the temperature memory effect in this alloy were investigated by the resistance method. These results showed that with increasing annealing temperature and annealing time, the phase transformation temperatures of TiNiCu wires were shifted to higher temperatures in the heating and cooling process. It was also found that incomplete thermal cycles, upon heating the TiNiCu wires, which were arrested at a temperature between the start and finish tem-peratures of the reverse martensite transformation, could induce a kinetic stop in the next complete thermal cycle. The kinetic stop tempera-ture was closely related to the previous arrested temperature. This phenomenon was defined as the temperature memory effect. The result of this study was consistent with the previous report on the phenomenon obtained using the differential scanning calorimetry method, indicating that temperature memory effect was a common phenomenon in shape memory alloys.     

IN SITU METALLOGRAPHIC OBSERVAION OF THERMAL CYCLING EFFECTS ON PHASE TRANSFORMATION IN Cu-Zn-Al SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY

1.IntroductionTheproperties0fshapememoryalloys(SMA)aredegradedt0differentdegreesbyage-ing,thermalcycling,stresscycling0rprestrain.Thedegradation0fshapememoryeffecthasbeenstudied[1-6]ands0mepr0blemsaren0wunderstoodandthishasallowedsomedevel0pmentsinthepracticalusage0fCu-Zn-AlSMA.H0wever,theunstabletransf0rma-tiontemperaturesandthestabilization0fthermalmartensitesduringthermalcyclinghaveseriouslyrestraineditsprogressinusageandithasbec0meurgenttos0lvetheremainingproblems-Frommanyrecentstudies…     

Influence of the post-deformation annealing heat treatment on the low-cycle fatigue of NiTi shape memory alloys

Shape memory alloys (SMA) suffer from the same impairing mechanisms experienced during cycling loading by classic alloys. Moreover, SMA fatigue behavior is greatly influenced by thermomechanical cycling through the zone of thermoelastic phase transformation, which is the basis of shape memory and superelasticity effects. Since the fatigue resistance of any material can be improved by an appropriate thermomechanical treatment, in the present work combined differential scanning calorimetry and microhardness testing were used to determine an optimum annealing temperature for the cold-worked Ni-50.1%Ti alloy. The optimization is based on the assumption that latent heat of transformation is proportional to the mechanical work generated by SMA upon heating, while material hardness is related to the yield stress of the material. It is supposed that an optimum trade-off in these two properties guarantees the best dimensional and functional stability of SMA devices. The level and stability of the mechanical work generated by the material during low-cycle fatigue testing are considered criteria for the material performance and thus of the validity of the proposed optimization procedure.     

Mechanical and functional behavior of a Ni-rich Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 high temperature shape memory alloy

The mechanical and functional behaviors of a Ni-rich Ni_50.3Ti_29.7Hf₂₀ high temperature shape memory alloy were investigated through combined ex situ macroscopic experiments and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Isothermal tension and compression tests were conducted between room temperature and 260 °C, while isobaric thermomechanical cycling experiments were conducted at selected stresses up to 700 MPa. Isothermal testing of the martensite phase revealed no plastic strain up to the test limit of 1 GPa and near-perfect superelastic behavior up to 3% applied strain at temperatures above the austenite finish. Excellent dimensional stability with greater than 2.5% actuation strain without accumulation of noticeable residual strains (at stresses less than or equal to −400 MPa) were observed during isobaric thermal cycling experiments. The absence of residual strain accumulation during thermomechanical cycling was confirmed by the lattice strains, determined from X-ray spectra. Even in the untrained condition, the material exhibited little or no history or path dependence in behavior, consistent with measurements of the bulk texture after thermomechanical cycling using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Post deformation cycling revealed the limited conditions under which a slight two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was obtained, with a maximum of 0.34% two-way shape memory strain after thermomechanical cycling under −700 MPa.     

EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENTS ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND TRANSFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS OF TiNiPd SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY THIN FILMS

Microstructure and phase transformation behaviors of the film annealed at different temperatures were studied by X-ray diffractometry （XRD）, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimeter （DSC）. Also tensile tests were examined. For increasing annealed temperature, multiple phase transformations, transformations via a B19-phase or direct martensite/austenite transformtion are observed. The TiNiPd thin film annealed at 750℃ had relatively uniform martensite/austenite transformtion and shape memory effect. Martensite/austenite transformtion was also found in strain-temperature curves. Subsequent annealing at 450℃ had minor effect on transformation temperatures of Ti-Ni-Pd thin films but resulted in more uniform transformation and improved shape memory effect.     

Martensitic transformation and mechanical properties of Ti-rich Ti-Ni-Cu melt-spun ribbon

Martensitic transformation, mechanical and thermomechanical properties of a Ti-rich Ti₅₂Ni₂₃Cu₂₅ melt spun ribbon annealed at a temperature below the crystallization temperature were studied by XRD, DSC and DMA. After annealing the initially amorphous ribbon at 400 °C for 10 h, the ribbon is fully crystallized and exhibits one-stage B2?B19 phase transformation with the temperature hysteresis of 14 °C. The annealed ribbon is composed of B2, B19 and B11-TiCu phase with (001) preferential orientation. On the stress―strain curves, the rearrangement of the martensite variants and stress-induced martensitic transformation are observed below the M_f temperature and above the A_f temperature, respectively. The annealed ribbon exhibits up to 1.6% superelastic shape recovery with small stress hysteresis of 25 MPa. No flat stress-plateau is associated with the superelasticity. The annealed ribbon shows a well-defined shape memory effect during thermal cycling from ?60 to 100 °C. The transformation strain and recovery strain increase with increasing the applied external stress. Under the external stress above 150 MPa, the shape recovery strain is not sensitive to it and keeps stable at about 1.74%.     

Effect of post-deformation annealing on the R-phase transformation temperatures in NiTi shape memory alloys

In NiTi shape memory alloys, both the annihilation of dislocations and the formation of Ni₄Ti₃ precipitates may occur during post-deformation annealing. Different responses of the R-phase transformation temperatures to the annealing conditions have been reported. In order to find out the main factor(s) affecting the R-phase transformation temperatures during post-deformation annealing, a Ti-49.8 at% Ni and a Ti-50.8 at% Ni alloy were subjected to various post-deformation annealing and thermal cycling treatments. The results show that the R-phase transformation temperatures are very stable in the Ti-49.8 at% Ni alloy, while a significant variation is observed in the Ti-50.8 at% Ni alloy with respect to the annealing and thermal cycling conditions. These findings suggest that the R-phase transformation temperatures are not susceptible to the change of dislocation density and depends mainly on the Ni concentration of the matrix, which can be modified by the formation of Ni₄Ti₃ precipitates.     

热循环对Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni合金形状记忆效应的影响

采用电阻法和OM等手段研究了不同温度区间的热循环对Fe-14Mn-5.5Si-8Cr-5Ni合金微观组织和形状记忆效应的影响。结果表明:298 K～353 K、520 K、773 K和77 K～773 K热循环1次后,合金形状回复率均大幅度提高;298～773 K循环5次后的形状回复率提高了26%,77～773 K热循环5次后的形状回复率提高了36%。热循环显著减少了因淬火热应力导致的热诱发ε马氏体量,并且热诱发ε马氏体的逆转变向基体引入了大量的堆垛层错。与固溶态相比,热循环后再变形不仅使α’马氏体的数量显著减少,而且应力诱发ε马氏体以区域化的方式形成,因而合金的形状记忆效应显著提高。77～773 K的热循环比298～773 K的热循环更能显著提高合金形状记忆效应的原因是由于其引入了更多的堆垛层错。     

Shape memory effect of TiNi-based springs trained by constraint annealing

This study investigated shape memory effect (SME) behaviors of TiNi-based shape memory alloys springs trained by constraint annealing treatments. The results indicated that SME behaviors were determined by constraint annealing sequences and the chemical composition of alloys. Springs made by Ni-rich TiNi binary alloys showed both single-way SME (SW-SME) and two-way SME (TW-SME) depending on the constraint annealing sequences, while those made by TiNiCu alloys only showed SW-SME. The mechanism and stability of TW-SME induced by constraint annealing were discussed. The occurrence of TW-SME was found to be associated with oriented internal coherent strain caused by preferential Ti₃Ni₄ precipitates. A special method, which could achieve a stable post-inherent TW-SME and size selectivity, was proposed to provide an effective approach for devising actuators in Ni-rich alloys.     

Temperature memory effect of Ni47Ti44Nb9 wide hysteresis shape memory alloy

The temperature memory effect (TME) phenomenon of Ni₄₇Ti₄₄Nb₉ wide hysteresis shape memory alloy was studied. It was found that TME occurred during the reverse transformation for the thermally-induced martensite (TIM) but not for the stress-induced martensite after incomplete transformation cycling. The reverse transformation temperature interval of TIM can be doubly broadened after 10 incomplete transformation cycles.     

Two-way shape memory effect and alternating current driving characteristics of a TiNi alloy spring

Two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was induced into the TiNi shape memory alloys (SMAs) spring by thermomechanical training after annealing treatment, which has promising application in micro-actuating fields. The TWSME spring can contract upon heating and extend upon cooling. The results show that there is an increase of the recovery ratio up to a maximum TWSME of 45%. During the training procedure, transformation temperatures and hysteresis were measured by different scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that As (reverse transformation start temperature) and Af (reverse transformation fmish temperature) shift to lower temperature after training. The intervals of ArAs and Ms-Mf (Ms and Mf are the martensite start and finish temperatures, respectively) increase and the heat of transformation decreases after training. The electrothermal driving characteristics of the TWSME springs were also investigated with alternating current density of 3.2-14.7A/mm^2. It is found that the time response and the maximum contraction ratio greatly depend on the magnitude of the electrical current density.     

Phase transformation behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi shape memory alloys under large strain

Although it is known that the plastic deformation after transformation could stabilize martensite and make the transformation irreversible, there lacks a systematic research on the effect of plasticity on phase transformation behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs). Therefore, the present study focuses on this aspect of NiTi SMAs. A series of tensile cycling experiments are performed on a NiTi SMA at room temperature. Attention has been paid to the characteristics of the phase transformation stresses, the residual and recoverable strain and the dissipated and recoverable energy density as functions of deformation cycles and maximum strain amplitude. With the increasing of plastic strain amplitude at the first loading cycle, the stress–strain curves reach a stable state sooner during cycling. It is concluded that a small amount of plastic strain at the first loading cycle is helpful to get good stable mechanical properties.     

Transformation behavior and mechanical properties of a nanostructured Ti−50.0Ni(at.%) alloy

Transformation behavior, the shape memory effect and the superelasticity of an equiatomic 40% cold worked Ti−Ni alloy followed by annealing at various temperatures have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy, thermal cycling tests under constant load and tensile tests. The B2-R-B19 transformation occurred in all samples, and the R-B19’ transformation occurred in a wide temperature range. The B2-R transformation start temperature kept constant with raising annealing temperature. The average grain size increased from 23 to 80 nm with raising annealing temperature from 523 to 673 K. Transformation hysteresis increased rapidly with raising annealing temperature up to 623 K, above which they almost keep constant, which was ascribed to the small grain size and large constraints of grain boundaries.     

深冷处理对Ni-Ti合金形状记忆效应的影响

用退火、DSC、XRD、深冷处理及机械训练等方法,对Ni(50.62%)Ti(49.38%)合金的显微组织、相变温度、相组成、形状回复率进行研究,探索提高该合金形状记忆效应的新方法。结果表明,该合金Ms点为-2℃,As点为22℃;退火态Ni-Ti合金主要由奥氏体及少量粒状的Ti3Ni4相组成;用液氮与乙醇经不同比例混合配制成的介质进行深冷处理,随着深冷温度的降低,合金的形状回复率增大;随着训练次数的增加,其回复率曲线呈抛物线状;该合金在3次机械训练-196℃深冷时回复率最好,为51.27%。     

50Ti-50Pd高温形状记忆合金研究

研究了50Ti-50Pd合金的马氏体相变、显微组织和形状记忆效应。结果表明：实验合金马氏体相变热滞小,呈热弹性,室温相为B19斜方结构;固溶处理50Ti-50Pd合金试样的记忆效应随起始恢复温度的升高而增大,弯曲循环可改善合金的记忆效应。