Simultaneous enhancement of mechanical and shape memory properties by heat-treatment homogenization of Ti_(2)Ni precipitates in TiNi shape memory alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

The excellent shape memory and mechanical properties of Ti Ni shape memory alloys(SMAs) fabricated using selective laser melting(SLM) are highly desirable for a wide range of critical applications. In this study, we examined the simultaneous enhancement of mechanical and shape memory properties using heat-treatment homogenization of Ti_(2)Ni precipitates in a Ti_(50.6)Ni_(49.4)SMA fabricated using SLM. Specifically, because of the complete solution treatment, nanoscale spherical Ti_(2)Ni precipitates were homogeneously dispersed throughout the grain interior. Interestingly, the resultant SMA exhibited an ultrahigh tensile strength of 880 ± 13 MPa, a large elongation of 22.4 ± 0.4%, and an excellent shape memory effect, with a recovery rate of > 98% and ultrahigh recoverable strain of 5.32% after ten loading–unloading cycles. These simultaneously enhanced properties are considerably superior than those of most previously reported Ti Ni SMAs fabricated using additive manufacturing. Fundamentally, the enhancement in tensile strength is ascribed to precipitation strengthening and work hardening, and the large plasticity is mainly attributed to the homogeneous nanoscale globular Ti_(2)Ni precipitates, which effectively impeded the rapid propagation of microcracks. Furthermore, the enhanced shape memory properties are derived from the suppression of dislocation movement and formation of retained stabilized martensite by the presence of high-density dislocations, nanoscale Ti_(2)Ni precipitates, and abundant interfaces. The obtained results provide insight into the enhancement of the two types of properties in Ti Ni SMAs and will accelerate the wider application of SMAs.

Overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off by tailoring grain-boundary metastable Si-containing phase in β-type titanium alloy

It is well accepted that grain-boundary phases in metallic alloys greatly deteriorate the mechanical properties.In our work,we report on a novel strategy to prepare high strength-ductility β-type(Ti69.71 Nb23.72Zr4.83Ta1.74)97Si3(at.%)(TNZTS) alloys by tailoring grain-boundary metastable Si-containing phase.Specifically,the thin shell-shaped metastable S1 phase surrounding the columnar β-Ti grain was intercepted successfully via nonequilibrium rapid solidification achieved by selective laser melting(SLM).Subsequently,the thin shell-shaped metastable(Ti,Nb,Zr)5 Si3(called S1) phase was transformed into globular(Ti,Nb,Zr)2 Si(called S2) phase by the solution heat treatment.Interestingly,the globular S2 phases reinforced TNZTS alloy exhibits ultrahigh yield strength of 978 MPa,ultimate strength of 1010 MPa and large elongation of 10.4 %,overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off of TNZTS alloys by various methods.Especially,the reported yield strength herein is 55 % higher than that of conventionally forged TNZT alloys.Dynamic analysis indicates the globularization process of the metastable S1 phase is controlled by the model of termination migration.The quantitative analysis on strengthening mechanism demonstrates that the increase in yield strength of the heat-treated alloys is mainly ascribed to the strengthening of the precipitated silicide and the dislocations induced by high cooling rate.The obtained results provide some basis guidelines for designing and fabricating β-titanium alloys with excellent mechanical properties,and pave the way for biomedical application of TNZTS alloy by SLM.

Shear-accelerated crystallization of glass-forming metallic liquids in high-pressure die casting

As one of the most important forming technologies for industrial bulk metallic glass (BMG) parts withcomplex shapes, high-pressure die casting (HPDC) can fill a die cavity with a glass-forming metallic liquidin milliseconds. However, to our knowledge, the correlation between flow and crystallization behavior inthe HPDC process has never been established. In this study, we report on the solidification behavior ofZr_(55)Cu_(30)Ni_(5)Al_(10) glass forming liquid under various flow rates. Surprisingly, the resulting alloys display adecreasing content of amorphous phase with increase of flow rate, i.e. increase of cooling rate, suggestingthat crystallization kinetics of glass-forming metallic liquids in the HPDC process is strongly dependenton the flow field. Analysis reveals that the accelerated crystallization behavior is mainly ascribed to therapid increase in viscosity with a decreasing temperature as well as to the huge shear effect in the glassforming liquid at the end stage of the filling process when the temperature is close to the glass-transitionpoint;this results in a transition from diffusion- to advection-dominated transport. The current investigation suggests that flow-related crystallization must be considered to assess the intrinsic glass-formingability of BMGs produced via HPDC. The obtained results will not only improve the understanding ofcrystallization dynamics but also promote the high-quality production and large-scale application of BMGparts.