Comparative study of R-phase martensitic transformations in TiNi-based shape memory alloys induced by point defects and precipitates

We studied the influence of point defects (Fe) and precipitates (Ti₃Ni₄) on the characteristics of R-phase martensitic transformation by comparing the transport and thermal properties of as-quenched Ti₅₀Ni₄₆Fe₄ and annealed Ti_48.7Ni_51.3 shape memory alloys. Both alloys undergo a weak first-order R-phase transformation with a small thermal hysteresis (less than 7 K) and non-zero transformation strain, suggesting the introduction of point defects and precipitates lead to a stable R-phase in these alloys due to the defects induced local lattice deformations. Furthermore, our study revealed that the transition temperature, transformation width, and transformation strain of the investigated R-phase TiNi-based alloys are strongly affected by the induced defects. As a result, the annealed Ti_48.7Ni_51.3 has a higher transition temperature than that of Ti₅₀Ni₄₆Fe₄, as expected.