Analysis of the thermal expansion characteristics of Ni53.6Mn27.1Ga19.3 alloy

Dilatation characteristics of Ni_53.6Mn_27.1Ga_19.3 alloy were measured in the temperature range of 20–360 °C. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) decreased with increasing temperature in the temperature range of the existence of martensite. Three variants of martensite transformed gradually into austenite. Analysis of the dilatation characteristics showed that compression deformation of the alloy at room temperature produces two kinds of strain.     

The effect of Fe addition on the transformation temperatures, lattice parameter and magnetization saturation of Ni52.5−XMn23Ga24.5FeX ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

The effect of Fe addition on martensitic transformation temperatures, Curie temperature (T_C), lattice parameters and magnetization saturation was studied in Ni_52.5−XMn₂₃Ga_24.5Fe_X alloys fabricated by arc-melting furnace. The characterizations were performed by DSC, X-ray diffraction and magnetometry. Fe replacing Ni sites leads to an increment on lattice parameter and on the magnetization saturation of the austenitic phase at room temperature. Also, T_C increases from 370 K up to 400 K and remains constant for X ≥ 3.1 at.% Fe. In contrast, martensitic transformation temperatures decrease with Fe substituting Ni.     

Structure and shape memory effect in a Ni54Mn25Ga20Gd1 alloy with a high transformation temperature

Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ (at.%) alloy with a high transformation temperature has been obtained by substituting 1 at.% Gd for Ga in a ternary Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₁ shape memory alloy. The microstructure and phase transformations in the Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ alloy have been investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD and DSC. The results show that the microstructure of the Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ alloy consists of matrix and hexagonal Gd (Ni,Mn)₄Ga phase, and martensitic transformation start temperature (M_s) is 491 K. The compressive strength and the compressive strain are about 958 MPa and 16%, respectively. The complete recovery is obtained from the Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ alloy as the pre-strains are no more than 3%. The maximum shape memory strain is achieved in Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ alloy with pre-strain of 4%, and the shape memory strain and recovery ratio are 1.9% and 87.5%, respectively. The two-way shape memory effect is also observed in Ni₅₄Mn₂₅Ga₂₀Gd₁ alloy.     

The influence of chemical disorder enhancement on the martensitic transformation of the Ni50Mn36Sn14 Heusler-type alloy

The effect of chemical disorder over the martensitic phase transformation of the Ni₅₀Mn₃₆Sn₁₄ Heusler-type alloy was systematically investigated by performing X-ray diffractometry (DRX), DC magnetization and ⁵⁷Fe-doping and ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. DRX patterns are characteristics of a L2₁-type chemically disordered structure, where the presence of this disorder was first evaluated by analyzing the relative intensity of the (1 1 1) DRX reflection, which varies in the case of Fe-doped and practically disappears for the milled samples. In consequence, the magnetic properties of Fe-doped well-milled samples related to the martensitic phase transformation change substantially. 300 K ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy data suggest that the changes in the magnetic properties related to the martensitic transformation are intrinsically correlated to the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic fractions, which are respectively associated with Fe atoms replacing Mn- and Sn-sites. In the case of milled samples, the drastic reduction of alloy magnetization was explained by the increase of the number of Mn atoms in the shell regions, which have a reduced magnetic moment comparatively to those in the grain cores. The magnetization change and the temperature transition in the martensitic transformation are governed by the grain core. The initial magnetic properties and martensitic transformation can be recovered by a subsequent annealing on the milled sample.     

MAGNETIC--FIELD--CONTROLLED SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT AND SUPERELASTICITY OF Ni53.2Mn22.6Ga24.2 SINGLE CRYSTAL

证实了Ni_53.2Mn_22.6Ga_24.2单晶发生的两步马氏体相变行为是完全热弹性的. 在磁场作用下, 该材料的马氏体相变和中间马氏体相变展现出相同的应变特征, 且具有磁控双向形状记忆效应. 磁场下应力--应变特性的测量结果表明, 磁场不但对压应力诱发马氏体相变过程中变体重取向所需应力的大小有影响, 而且使原来不可逆的形变成为可逆, 这种磁控超弹性特性预示了该合金用作磁控超弹性元器件材料的可能性.     

3R and 14M martensitic transformations in as-rolled and annealed Ni64Al34.5Re1.5 shape memory alloy

Martensitic transformation of as-rolled and 1323 K × 1 h annealed Ni₆₄Al_34.5Re_1.5 (NiAl-1.5Re) shape memory alloy (SMA) is investigated. For as-rolled NiAl-1.5Re alloy, TEM and EPMA results indicate both 14M and 3R martensites are observed at the room temperature. 14M is formed in the precipitate-free zone which is a Ni-depletion region and 3R is formed in the matrix which is a Ni-enrichment region. XRD and partial-cycle DSC testing results show that the higher temperature peak of the DSC cooling curve is B2 → 14M and the lower one is B2 → 3R. Hardness tests show that 14M hardness is higher than that of 3R. For annealed NiAl-1.5Re alloy, only B2 ↔ 3R can be observed. The critical value for the formation of 14M martensite in NiAl-1.5Re alloy is about 63.6 at.% Ni, as compared to 63.0 at.% Ni for Ni-Al binary SMAs.     

Time effect of martensitic transformation in Ni43Co7Mn41Sn9

Effect of thermal arrest on the L2₁-tetragonal martensitic transformation in a NiCoMnSn shape memory alloy was investigated. The phenomenon was studied by interrupted heating/cooling in differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The experimental evidence indicates that the forward martensitic transformation continued to completion during cooling arrest between M_s and M_f. The same behavior was also observed for the reverse transformation on heating. These observations demonstrate that the L2₁-tetragonal martensitic transformation in the Ni₄₃Co₇Mn₄₁Sn₉ alloy is time dependent at the finite cooling rate.     

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.     

Martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of Ti-doped NiCoMnSn shape memory alloy

Martensitic transformation, microstructure, and magnetic properties of Ti-doped Ni43-xTixCo7Mn43Sn7（at%）（x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0） shape memory alloys were investigated. The results show that transformation temperatures of Ni43Co7Mn43Sn7 can be efficiently adjusted by the substitution of Ti for Ni. For example, the martensitic transformation starting temperature（Ms） is reduced by about 278 K with 4 at% addition of Ti. Room temperature microstructure evolves from single tetragonal martensite for the Ti-free alloy to dual phases（tetragonal martensite ＋ second phase） with 0.5 at%, 1.0 at%, and2.0 at% addition of Ti to dual phases（cubic austenite ＋ second phase） for 4.0 at% Ti-doped alloy. The mechanical properties can be obviously improved by adding an appropriate amount of Ti. A noteworthy point is that magnetic-field-induced reverse transformation is observed in Ni39Ti4Co7Mn43Sn7 alloy.     

Effect of selective substitution of Co for Ni or Mn on the superstructure and microstructural properties of Ni50Mn29Ga21

Results from a systematic study of the effect of cobalt, selectively substituted for Ni and Mn, in the modulated orthorhombic (7 M) Ni₅₀Mn₂₉Ga₂₁ alloy are contrasted. Substitution of Co for Mn resulted in the stabilization of a non-modulated tetragonal (NM) phase at higher Co content. At lower Co contents, a mixture of 7 M and NM phases were found to co-exist. Increasing in Co content caused suppression of long-range twin deformation leading to sporadic islands within which twin variants were confined. These effects are attributed to the considerable stresses generated by an atomic volume change of 9.5% caused locally when Co is substituted for Mn. On the other hand, substitution of Co for Ni, which causes only 1.7% atomic volume change locally, was observed not to alter either the superstructural ordering or the long-range twin deformation. Our results show that the microstructures resultant on Co doping have a strong correlation to the structural ordering, which in turn depends on whether Co is substituted for Mn or for Ni, and also on the concentration of Co.     

Effect of thermal cycling through the martensitic transition on the internal friction and Young’s modulus of a Ni50.8Ti49.2 alloy

The internal friction (IF) and Young’s modulus (E) of a Ni_50.8Ti_49.2 is affected by thermal cycling. With increasing the number n of thermal cycles, the IF peak P_AM (P_MA) occurring at the austenite/martensite transition temperature decreases to disappear almost completely. Meanwhile the associated E(T) minimum at the beginning (n<250) deepens and then becomes progressively shallower and wider (3×10³≤n<18×10³). The strong sensitivity of P_AM (P_MA) to thermal cycling and to impurity (hydrogen) contents suggests that this peak is predominantly associated with stress-assisted collective motions of twin boundaries located inside the martensite platelets embedded within the austenite phase, rather than with the martensitic transition itself. However, as the high temperature tail of P_AM starts at temperatures appreciably higher than the martensite start-temperature M_s, a premartensitic contribution to damping is also present. The widening of the E(T) minimum indicates that, for n≥3×10³, the direct transformation is to some extent hindered by the dislocation network introduced by thermal cycling. A not thermally activated IF peak P_TWM, which is believed to be due to stress-assisted motions of (001) compound twin boundaries in the homogeneous martensite state, grows with increasing n.     

Temperature memory effect of Ti50Ni30Cu20 (at.%) alloy

After the reverse thermal induced martensitic transformation process of shape memory alloy is arrested at a temperature between the reverse transformation start and finish temperatures (A_s and A_f), and then cooled to a temperature below M_f, a kinetic stop will occur in the next heat flow curve during the heating process. The kinetic stop is closely related to the arrested temperature. This phenomenon is called temperature memory effect (TME). TME of Ti₅₀Ni₃₀Cu₂₀ (at.%) shape memory alloy with phase transformation between B2 austenite and B19 martensite has been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter in this paper. The results indicate that TME of Ti₅₀Ni₃₀Cu₂₀ alloy only exists in the heating process.     

Temperature and field induced strain in polycrystalline Ni50Mn35In15−xSix magnetic shape memory Heusler alloys

Magnetic shape memory properties of polycrystalline Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In_15−xSi_x were investigated. A reversible strain of more than 0.4% was observed for x = 0 at a magnetic field H = 5 T that was found to be associated with a field induced reverse martensitic transformation. The strains were found to increase with the substitution of In by Si and strains larger than 1% were observed for x = 2 at H = 5 T. Both the positive and negative strain changes were observed in the vicinity of martensitic transition temperatures. The strain in Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In_15−xSi_x was found to depend on silicon concentration, and on samples texture.     

Ni48Co1Mn37In14- x Al x 磁性记忆合金马氏体相变、力学性能和耐腐蚀性能

采用电弧熔炼的材料制备方法,研究了微量的主族元素Al掺杂对Ni₄₈Co₁Mn₃₇In_14-xAl_x (0≤x≤2)磁性形状记忆合金显微组织、晶体结构、马氏体相变、力学性能和耐腐蚀性能的影响。结果表明：用Al替代部分In,合金的晶粒尺寸明显减小,掺杂2at%的Al元素,平均晶粒尺寸缩小到10 μm左右,大约为未掺杂样品的三十五分之一;当Al掺杂量在0.25at%~2at%时,金属Al完全固溶到基体中,而且Al在合金中的固溶度随掺杂量的增加有所提升,当Al掺杂量为2at%时,Al在基体中的固溶度接近2at%;随着Al对In的取代,室温下合金由L2₁立方奥氏体与单斜6M马氏体的两相结构转变为单一的6M调制马氏体相结构,晶胞体积逐渐减小,马氏体相变温度呈现上升趋势;合金抗压强度不断增大,Ni₄₈Co₁Mn₃₇In₁₂Al₂的抗压缩断裂强度与Ni₄₈Co₁Mn₃₇In₁₄相比提高了160%,压缩应变也由5.46%增加到6.36%;适量的Al替代In后,合金在人工海水中的耐腐蚀性能总体呈现不断增强的趋势,Ni₄₈Co₁Mn₃₇In₁₂Al₂合金的耐腐蚀性能明显高于Ni₄₈Co₁Mn₃₇In₁₄合金,且其耐腐蚀性接近于304不锈钢。     

High temperature transformations of the Au7Cu5Al4 shape-memory alloy

The β-phase of Au₇Cu₅Al₄ undergoes a reversible shape-memory phase transformation, however there has been some uncertainty regarding the crystal structure or structures of the parent phase. Here we show that, under equilibrium conditions, the parent phase possesses the L2₁ structure between its A_p (about 79 °C) and ∼630 °C, and the B2 primitive cubic structure between ∼630 °C and its melting point. It melts directly from B2 into the liquid state and hence never achieves the random bcc A2 structure that has been previously mooted. Splat-cast samples of the alloy are martensitic, proving that development of equilibrium order and defect concentration are not pre-requisites for the A → M transformation to occur.     

Kinetic arrest behavior in martensitic transformation of NiCoMnSn metamagnetic shape memory alloy

High-field magnetic measurements were carried out in order to investigate behaviors of field-induced reverse martensitic transformation and kinetic arrest of NiCoMnSn metamagnetic shape memory alloy. In the thermomagnetization curves, it was confirmed that the reverse martensitic transformation temperature decreases 67 K by applying magnetic field of 5 T, while in the magnetic field cooling process under 5 T, martensitic transformation does not occur down to low temperatures. Equilibrium magnetic field, defined from the critical magnetic fields of the metamagnetic evidence in the magnetization curves, exhibits almost constant below about 100 K, suggesting that the entropy change becomes zero, which is considered to cause kinetic arrest behavior.     

Influence of anisotropy, the latent heat and the thermal history of alloy on martensitic transformation strain in Ni3Ta single crystal

Transformation characteristics in the single crystal of Ni₃Ta shape memory alloy were studied by the dilatation measurement in the temperature range of room temperature up to 500 °C. The transformation strains were positive in the direction of the b-axes and the c-axes and negative in the direction of a-axes. The martensitic phase transformation takes place without volume change of the sample. Thermal diffusivity of the single crystal measured in two directions b-axes and a-axes was higher than that for polycrystalline material.The latent heat of the martensitic phase transformation influences the temperature distribution inside sample. Absorption (releasing) of the latent heat during heating (cooling) leads to cooling (heating) of the sample in place where the phase transformation takes place. This decrease (increase) of the temperature in the interface between both phases leads to stopping of the phase transformation. This effect is visible on the temperature dependence of the dilatation characteristics. The martensitic phase transformation in Ni₃Ta single crystal took place with hysteresis of 30 °C. This hysteresis changes depending on the thermal history of the sample. Hysteretic behaviour of the Ni₃Ta single crystal was analyzed and compared with behaviour of Ni_53.6Mn_27.1Ga_19.3 alloy where no hysteresis was found.