Austenite stability in Fe–Mn–Si-based shape memory alloys

The stability of austenite in a number of Fe–Mn–Si-based shape memory alloys has been investigated. It was found that a grain boundary precipitate of BCC structure is formed over a wide range of alloy compositions and heat treatment temperatures. This grain boundary phase has been identified as the chi (χ) phase. Although up to 3 vol.% of the grain boundary precipitate was generated by isothermal aging in the range 500–800 °C, it was found not to markedly affect the mechanical properties or the shape memory effect. Nano-indentation indicated that the hardness and strength of the parent and precipitate phase are very similar, as are their compositions.     

Factors affecting the generation of stress-assisted two-way memory effect in NiTi shape memory alloy

The combined effects of martensite pre-deformation and constrained stress on the generation of stress-assisted two-way memory effect (SATWME) were studied. Particular attention was paid to the generation of internal stress during thermal cycling under constant stress. The result highlights that the maximum SATWME is not determined solely by the maximum internal stress developed. The SATWME strain when subjected to 18% martensite pre-strain coincides, independently of constrained stress applied and internal stress developed. This study also provides experimental evidence that when under 400 MPa constrained stress the maximum SATWME shifts toward higher pre-deformation amplitude and this phenomenon is comparable to the increased cold-work. The results further suggest that the mechanism that associates with the change of M_s temperature plays critical role in determining the SATWME.     

A micromechanical analysis of the coupled thermomechanical superelastic response of textured and untextured polycrystalline NiTi shape memory alloys

In this paper a micromechanical model that incorporates single crystal constitutive relationships is used for studying the pseudoelastic response of polycrystalline shape memory alloys (SMAs). In the micromechanical framework, the stress-free transformation strains of the possible martensite twinned structures, correspondence variant pairs (CVPs), obtained from the crystallographic data of NiTi are used, and the overall transformation strain is obtained by defining a set of martensitic volume fractions corresponding to active CVPs during phase transformation. The local form of the first law of thermodynamics is used and the energy balance relation for the polycrystalline SMAs is obtained. Generalized coupled thermomechanical governing equations considering the phase transformation latent heat are derived for polycrystalline SMAs. A three-dimensional finite element framework is used and different polycrystalline samples are modeled based on Voronoi tessellations. By considering appropriate distributions of crystallographic orientations in the grains obtained from experimental texture measurements of NiTi samples, the effects of texture and the tension–compression asymmetry in polycrystalline SMAs are studied. The interaction between the stress state (tensile or compressive), the number of grains and the texture on the mechanical response of polycrystalline SMAs is studied. It is found that the number of grains (or size) affects both the stress–strain response and the phase transformation propagation in the material. In addition to tensile and compressive loadings, textured and untextured NiTi micropillars with different sizes are also studied in bending. The coupled thermomechanical framework is used for analyzing the effect of loading rate and the phase transformation latent heat on the response of both textured and untextured samples. It is shown that the temperature changes due to the heat generation during phase transformation can affect the propagation of martensite in samples subjected to high strain rates.     

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.     

Surface mechanical attrition treatment induced phase transformation behavior in NiTi shape memory alloy

The phase constituents and transformation behavior of the martensite B19′ NiTi shape memory alloy after undergoing surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) are investigated. SMAT is found to induce the formation of a parent B2 phase from the martensite B19′ in the top surface layer. By removing the surface layer-by-layer, X-ray diffraction reveals that the amount of the B2 phase decreases with depth. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) further indicates that the deformed martensite in the sub-surface layer up to 300 μm deep exhibits the martensite stabilization effect. The graded phase structure and transformation behavior in the SMATed NiTi specimen can be attributed to the gradient change in strain with depth.     

Selective surface oxidation and nitridation of NiTi shape memory alloys by reduction annealing

The current investigation aims in understanding the effect of short-term (300 s) annealing of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) in a reducing atmosphere of N₂-10% H₂. The influence of temperature on the resulting surface morphology and chemistry is elucidated. On annealing at 600 °C, the surface is covered with a thin layer of titanium oxide, which is 7.5 nm thick, while at 800 °C, the surface is covered with a golden-yellow layer of TiN of thickness more than 100 nm. The surface analysis carried out by XPS on the specimen annealed at 800 °C confirms the formation of TiN and more notably, the surface is devoid of Ni.     

Microdefects and electron densities in NiTi shape memory alloys studied by positron annihilation

1Introduction NiTi alloys are the most successful shape memory alloys as a result of their combination of good functional properties and excellent mechanical strength[1,2].The thermal and mechanical shape memory behavior in these alloys is dependent upon …     

V-shape in Young''s modulus versus strain relationship in shape memory alloys upon mechanical loading

The evolution of Young's modulus in NiTi polycrystalline wires of different initial phases in uniaxial tension was investigated. A V-shape with the bottom at round the hardening start point was found in all experiments. This is a phenomenon that has not yet been reported in the literature. Similar phenomenon was also observed in an austenite CuAlNi single crystal under uniaxial compression although appearing within a much narrower strain range. Optical observation and Wyko interferometer study of the CuAlNi sample surface revealed that the occurrence of V-shape is accompanied by the abrupt reorientation of martensite variant(s). It is concluded that same mechanism should be responsible for the similar phenomenon in polycrystals.     

铸态镍钛形状记忆合金的断裂行为及显微组织(英文)

通过真空自耗电极熔炼法制备等原子比镍钛形状记忆合金。为了研究其断裂力学性能,进行铸态镍钛形状记忆合金的拉伸和压缩实验。为了更好地理解镍钛形状记忆合金的组织演变及断裂行为,分析铸态镍钛形状记忆合金及其断裂样品的显微组织。在拉伸加载下,镍钛形状记忆合金在750°C时具有较高的塑性,表现为韧性断裂,但在室温和-100°C时表现出较差的塑性,具有解理断裂和穿晶断裂的特征。在-100°C的压缩加载下,铸态镍钛形状记忆合金发生剪切断裂,剪切断裂面法线与压缩轴呈45°,具有解理断裂的特征,裂纹经由穿晶断裂而扩展。     

Passivation and oxygen ion implantation double surface treatment on porous NiTi shape memory alloys and its Ni suppression performance

The surfaces of porous NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) were modified by double treatment of passivation (PA) in HNO₃ solution and oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation (O-PIII) methods. SEM and XPS were used to characterize the modified surface. It has been found that a protective film consists of three layers formed on the surface after modification. From the outmost surface towards inside, they are a 10 nm thick layer consisting of rutile and anatase TiO₂ with pure rutile TiO₂ on the surface and their ratio varying in gradient, a 45 nm thick layer containing anatase TiO₂ and NiTi with constant ratios and a 40 nm thick layer of TiO₂, TiO and NiTi with their ratio varying in gradient. The immersion tests in simulated human body fluid demonstrated that the modified porous NiTi samples exhibit a good Ni suppression performance, approaching to that of the untreated dense NiTi samples. The Ni ion content released from the porous NiTi SMAs double treated by PA and O-PIII is one magnitude lower than that from the untreated porous samples. Moreover, the released Ni ion content after 8 weeks can be reduced into the safe range acceptable to the human body.     

Electrochemical behavior of YAG laser-welded NiTi shape memory alloy

Electrochemical behaviors of laser-welded Ti-50.6%Ni（mole fraction） shape memory alloy and the base metal in 0.9% NaCl solution were investigated by electrochemical techniques as corrosion potential measurement, linear and potentiodynamic polarization. The results indicate that the laser-welded NiTi alloy is less susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion than the base metal, which is demonstrated by the increase in polarization resistance（Rp） and pitting potential（φpit） and decrease in corrosion current density（Jcorr） and mean difference between φpit and φprot values. It is confirmed by scanning electron microscope micrographs that pits could be observed on the surface of base metal but not on the surface of laser-welded alloy after potentiodynamic tests. An improvement of corrosion resistance of laser-welded NiTi alloy could be attributed to almost complete dissolution of inclusions upon laser welding.     

Surface treatment of NiTi shape memory alloy by modified advanced oxidation process

A modified advanced oxidation process(AOP) utilizing a UV/electrochemically-generated peroxide system was used to fabricate titania films on chemically polished NiTi shape memory alloy(SMA). The microstructure and biomedical properties of the film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICPMS), hemolysis analysis, and blood platelet adhesion test. It is found that the modified AOP has a high processing effectiveness and can result in the formation of a dense titania film with a Ni-free zone near its top surface. In comparison, Ni can still be detected on the outer NiTi surface by the conventional AOP using the UV/H2O2 system. The depth profiles of O, Ni, Ti show that the film possesses a smooth graded interface structure next to the NiTi substrate and this structure enhances the mechanical stability of titania film. The titania film can dramatically reduce toxic Ni ion release and also improve the hemolysis resistance and thromboresistance of biomedical NiTi SMA.     

Direct physical evidence for the back-transformation of stress-induced martensite in the vicinity of cracks in pseudoelastic NiTi shape memory alloys

Crack loading and crack extension in pseudoelastic binary NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) miniature compact tension (CT) specimens with 50.7 at.% Ni (austenitic, pseudoelastic) was investigated using infrared (IR) thermography during in situ loading and unloading. IR thermographic measurements allow for the observation of heat effects associated with the stress-induced transformation of martensite from B2 to B19′ during loading and the reverse transformation during unloading. The results are compared with optical images and discussed in terms of the crack growth mechanisms in pseudoelastic NiTi SMAs. Direct experimental evidence is presented which shows that crack growth occurs into a stress-induced martensitic microstructure, which immediately retransforms to austenite in the wake of the crack.     

Microstructure of stress-induced martensite in nanocrystalline NiTi shape memory alloy

The microstructure of stress-induced martensite(SIM) in the nanocrystalline NiTi alloy was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The result shows that the multi-variant structure of the martensite is suppressed and only single-variant martensitic twins form after tensile deformation when the grain size is smaller than80 nm. The normal directions of the(001)B190twin planes are all within the range of 45° from the axial direction of the wire. The angle between twin crystals(1"11)Mand(111)Tof the SIM is also found to be smaller than that of thermally induced martensite in nanocrystalline NiTi.     

In situ synthesis of nanostructured titania film on NiTi shape memory alloy by Fenton＇s oxidation method

Fenton＇s oxidation method was successfully used to synthesize an ideal titania film in situ on NiTi shape memory alloy（SMA） for medical applications. Characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrochemical tests, it is found that the titania film produced by Fenton＇s oxidation method on NiTi SMA is nanostructured and has a Ni-free zone near its top surface, which results in a notable improvement in corrosion resistance and a remarkable decrease in leaching of harmful Ni ions from NiTi SMA in simulated body fluids. The improvement of effectiveness to corrosion resistance and the reduction in Ni release of NiTi SMA by Fenton＇s oxidation method are comparable to those by oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation reported earlier.     

NiTi形状记忆薄膜的应用及进展

介绍了当前国内外NiTi薄膜在以微机电系统(MEMS)为主的诸多领域中的应用研究情况, 分析了存在的问题, 并展望了今后的发展前景.     

NiTi形状记忆合金的应变补偿物理本构模型

采用Gleeble-3500热模拟试验机对NiTi形状记忆合金进行了等温恒应变速率压缩试验,研究其在变形温度为700～900℃、应变速率为0.001～10 s-1和最大高度下压量为70％下的高温热变形行为;建立了引入物理参量的应变补偿本构模型.结果 表明:合金的流变应力具有负温度相关性和正应变速率敏感性,在应变速率为0...