Microstructure and properties of laser micro welded joint of TiNi shape memory alloy

Butt welding of 0.2 mm-thick TiNi shape memory alloy sheet （SMA） was carried out using impulse laser, and tensile strength, fracture morphology, microstructure and phase change behaviour of welded joint were studied. The results show that using impulse laser can realize good butt welding of TiNi SMA sheet, tensile strength of welded joint is 683 MPa, which achieves 97% of that of cold rolled base metal, and the fracture mode of welded joint is ductile type as well as base metal. The welded joint can be divided into four zones according to grain size and microstructure. The microstructures of welded seam center zone are fine equiaxed crystals and the microstructures of both lower surface and upper surface edge zones are columnar crystals. When welded joint is vacuum annealed after welding, the phase transformation process is basically similar to the annealed base metal.

Surface modification with SiO_2 coating on biomedical TiNi shape memory alloy by sol-gel method

The effect of heat treatment on the transformation temperature of Ti?52.2%Ni (mole fraction) alloy was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transformation temperatures of the alloy can be adjusted effectively by heat treatment. Dense and stable SiO2 coatings were deposited on the surface of the pre-oxidized TiNi alloy by sol?gel method. The bonding strength of films and matrix was (65.9±1.5) N. The electrochemical corrosion test shows that the TiNi alloy with SiO2 coating has excellent corrosion resistance in the Hank’s simulated body fluid. The release behaviors of Ni ion of the alloy with and without SiO2 coating implanted in the acoustic vesicle of guinea pig were studied by EDS testing, which was inhibited effectively by the dense and stable SiO2 coating on the alloy.

Microstructures and properties of capacitor discharge welded joint of TiNi shape memory alloy and stainless steel

Microstructures and properties of capacitor discharge welded （CDW） joint of TiNi shape memory alloy （ SMA ） and stainless steel （SS） were studied. The fracture characteristics of the joint were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope （ SEM）. Microstructures of the joint were examined by means of optical microscope and SEM. The results showed that the teusile strength of the inhomogeneous joint （ TiNi-SS joint） was low and the joint was brittle. Because TiNi SMA and SS melted, a brittle as-cast structure and compound were formed in the weld. The tensile strength and the shape memory effect （SME） of TiNi-SS joint were strongly influenced by the changes of composition and structure of the weld. Measures should be taken to prevent defects from forming and extruding excessive molten metal in the weld for improving the properties of TiNi-SS joint.

Effects of Predeformation on the Reverse Martensitic Transformation of TiNi Shape Memory Alloy

DSC was used to study the effects of predeformation on the reverse martensitic transformation of near-equiatomic TiNi alloy. Both the start temperature As and the finish temperature Af of the reverse transformation increased with increasing degree of predeformation, but the algebraic difference between As and Af decreased with increasing predeformation until it reached a minimum value, then remained unchanged with further deformation. Transformation heat also increased with increasing predeformation until it reached a maximum value, then decreased with further predeformation. All the phenomena above were considered to be closely related with the release of elastic strain energy during predeformation.

PREPARATION OF TiNi SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY POROSINT BY SHS

TiNi shape memory alloy porosint, a promising artificial bone material, was prepared by self propagating high temperature synthesis method. It is found that the key technical parameter affecting the porosity, the shape and distribution of the bores in the synthesized product is the pre heating temperature of green compact. While the pre heating temperature varies between 523 K and 673 K, the TiNi shape memory alloy porosint with wholly homogeneously distributing bores will be gained. The porosity of the porosint is 70% when the pre heating temperature is near 673 K, which is maximal under different pre heating temperatures. The compressive strength of TiNi SMA porosint with a porosity of 70% manufactured by SHS is up to 100 MPa and the percentage recovered is 92%.

The Reverse Transformation Behavior of TiNi Shape Memory Alloy Wires Prestrained at Different Temperatures

The reverse transformation behavior of TiNi alloy wires prestrained at different temperatures is studied in this paper. Experimental results show that prestrain at different temperatures obviously affects the reverse transformation behavior of the TiNi alloy wire. A single peak appears on the DSC curves of wires prestrained at 253-313K (in the martensite state). However deformed at 333K, three consecutive peaks appear on the DSC curves of wires with a smaller prestrain and a single peak appears on the DSC curves of the wires with a larger prestrain. The recovery strain ratio of the wires prestrained at 253-313K are very similar. However, the ratio of the wire predeformed at 333K is obviously smaller than that of the wire prestrained in the martensite state.

Reverse Transformation Behavior of TiNi Shape Memory Alloys Prestrained in the Parent Phase

The reverse martensitic transformation of TiNi alloy wires prestrained in the parent phase was studied. Experimental results shou, that the reverse transformation of the TiNi allogys prestrained in the parent phase is significantly different from that of the TiNi alloys prestrained in the martensite phase. Three continual peaks appear on the DSC curves of wires with a small prestrain and one high temperature peak appears on the DSC curves of wires with a large prestrain.

Numerical Simulation of Mechanical Behaviors of the TiNi Shape Memory Alloy Welded Joints in the Precise Pulse Resistance Butt-Welding

The hysteresis unit system was introduced to mechanical structure behavior of the TiNi SMA joint based on the structure characteristics of the martensite variants in the joints, and some functions reflecting its inner structure characteristics and micro-behavior such as density function, phase transformation function were set up from micro-points. Finally, the structure behavior relationship and corresponding mathematic model reflecting the relationship among hysteresis strain, stress and phase transformation strain were provided, which could predict the stress-strain behavior of the TiNi SMA joint to large extent.

Deformation Mechanism and Stabilization of Martensite in TiNi Shape Memory Alloy

The deformed microstructures of a TiNi shape memory alloy were investigated in present study to clarify the deformation mechanism.It is found that the stress-strain curve was divided into three stages based on the deformation modes.The cause of martensitic stabilization effect was also interpreted by paying special attention to the deformed microstructures.Transmission electron microscopic examination revealed that at the early stage of deformation martensitic reorientation and compound twinning relieved some of the elastic strain energy stored in martensite,and this contributes to the martensitic stabilization effect.However,when deformation strain became larger,the density of dislocations increased correspondingly.Antiphase boundaries were also found.The degree of ordering was therefore decreased due to dislocations and antiphase boundaries.So disordering was another cause of martensitic stabilization effect.In the middle stage of deformation martensitic stabilization was attributed to the two reasons above.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser-welded TiNi shape memory alloy and stainless steel wires

The Nd ： YAG laser welding was used to join the TiNi shape memory alloy and AISI304 stainless steel wires. The microstructural features of the dissimilar material joint were analyzed. The tensile and hardness tests were carried out to examine the mechanical properties and microhardness distribution of the welded joint. The results show that the joint has the non-homogeneous microstructure and element distribution. The brittle phases such as Fe2 Ti , Fe Ti , Cr2 Ti , Ti3 Ni4, Feo 2 Ni4.s Ti5 and TiN mainly segregate in rich Ti region of fusion zone. The laser-welded joint has the tensile strength of 298 MPa with the elongation of 3.72 % and exhibits the brittle fracture features on the fracture surfaces. The reasons for low joint strength were discussed in this investigation.

Analysis on the joint tensile strength and fractography of TiNi shape memory alloy precise pulse resistance butt welding

This paper studies mechanical property and fractography of the welded joints obtained in different welding parameters such as welding heat and welding press with/without gas shield in TiNi shape memory alloy precise pulse resistance butt welding using tensile strength test, XRD, SEM and TEM measures. The optimum welding parameters obtaining high tensile strength welded joint are got. On the condition of welding press magneting current 2 A and welding heat 75%, the joint strength is the highest. This is important for to study other properties of TiNi shape memory alloy further. The experimental results state that argon gas shield have different effects on different welding parameters, less on welding press, but great on welding heat. But excessive welding press and welding heat have great effects on joint tensile strength. Too high welding heat can produce the new intermetallic compound, this intermetallic compound lead to dislocation density to increase and form the potential crack initiation, which can easily make the joint fracture under stress effect and decrease the shape memory ratio of joint for high density dislocation groups existing in the twinned martensite.

Effect of Thermal Cycling under Load on Martensite Transformation and Two-way Shape Memory Effect in a TiNi Alloy

The effect of thermal cycling under loading on martensitic transformation and two-way shape memory effect was investigated for Ti-49.8 at, pet Ni alloy. It is shown that M(s), and M(f) temperature increase with increasing the number of cycles, while A(s) and A(f) temperature decrease during thermal cycling. The total strain at and permanent strain epsilon (p) increase with increasing applied stress and number of cycles. The two-way shape memory effect can be improved by proper thermal cycling training under loading, while excessively high applied stress results in the deterioration of TWSME. The reason for the changes in martensitic transformation characteristics and two-way shape memory effect during thermal cycling under loading is discussed based on the analysis of microstructure by TEM observations.

Wire electric discharge machining characteristics of titanium nickel shape memory alloy

Ti Ni shape memory alloys（SMAs） have been normally used as the competent elements in large part of the industries due to outstanding properties, such as super elasticity and shape memory effects. However, traditional machining of SMAs is quite complex due to these properties. Hence, the wire electric discharge machining（WEDM） characteristics of Ti Ni SMA was studied. The experiments were planned as per L27 orthogonal array to minimize the experiments, each experiment was performed under different conditions of pulse duration, pulse off time, servo voltage, flushing pressure and wire speed. A multi-response optimization method using Taguchi design with utility concept has been proposed for simultaneous optimization. The analysis of means（ANOM） and analysis of variance（ANOVA） on signal to noise（S/N） ratio were performed for determining the optimal parameter levels. Taguchi analysis reveals that a combination of 1 μs pulse duration, 3.8 μs pulse off time, 40 V servo voltage, 1.8×105 Pa flushing pressure and 8 m/min wire speed is beneficial for simultaneously maximizing the material removal rate（MRR） and minimizing the surface roughness. The optimization results of WEDM of Ti Ni SMA also indicate that pulse duration significantly affects the material removal rate and surface roughness. The discharged craters, micro cracks and recast layer were observed on the machined surface at large pulse duration.

Evolution of TiNi precipitates in TiNi alloy during equal channel angular pressing

The evolution of Ti3Ni4 precipitates in Ti49.2Ni50.8 alloy during equal channel angular pressing(ECAP) and intermediate annealing was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The solution-treated Ti49.2Ni50.8 alloy was aged at 450 ℃ for 10 to 60 min to obtain Ti3Ni4 precipitates ranging from 37 to 75 nm. After ECAP at 450 ℃ for one pass, Ti3Ni4 precipitates introduced by aging for 10 and 30 min totally dissolve into the matrix;however, those produced by aging for 60 min become smaller. The critical size of Ti3Ni4 precipitates to totally dissolve into matrix is determined to be in the range of 37-68 nm. The dislocation density of ECAP-processed samples depends on the initial size of Ti3Ni4 precipitates after aging. With increasing the duration of initial aging from 10 to 60 min, the dislocation density firstly increases and then decreases.

Deformation temperature and postdeformation annealing effects on severely deformed TiNi alloy by equal channel angular extrusion

Micron TiNi alloy blocks were fabricated at high temperature by equal channel angular extrusion （ECAE） using hotforged Ti-50.3at%Ni alloy as the raw material and the effects of deformation temperature and postdeformation annealing on the severely deformed TiNi alloy by ECAE were investigated. The results show that the TiNi alloy processed by ECAE undergoes severe plastic deformation, and lowering the deformation temperature and increasing the number of extrusions contribute to grain refinement. When the annealing temperature is below 873 K, static recovery is the main restoration process; when the temperature rises to 973 K, static recrystallization occurs. It is found that fine particles are precipitated when the TiNi alloy processed by ECAE is annealed at 773 K.

Mechanical Behaviors of TiNi Alloy under Dynamic Impact Loading Conditions

The mechanical behaviors of Ti-50.7%Ni shape memory alloy under a dynamic impact loading condition were investigated by a home-built impact testing system. Both the contact force and the contact time during the impact process were measured with a piezoelectric force sensor and a digital signal processing system in real time. The predicted instantaneous velocity and the displacement formulae are presented. Results show that the maximum contact force increased, while the contact time decreased with the increase of the temperature when the TiNi alloy was in a martensitic state. When the compressive stress during the impact process was higher than the critical stress of the stress-induced martensitic transformation, the TiNi alloy specimen in the parent phase left no permanent deformation but could dissipate the impact energy.

Actuation Mechanism of Two-step Reverse Transformation Behavior in TiNi Alloys Deformed at Parent Phase

The actuation mechanism of TiNi shape memory alloy wires, which were deformed at parent phase followed by a cooling process under constant strain constraint, was investigated. The experimental results show that the two-step reverse martensitic transformation behavior occurs during the heating process, and the temperature range of reverse transformation was obviously widened with the increasing of prestrain. The recovery strain vs temperature curves exhibits an actuation characteristic of linear output recovery strain in a wide temperature range.

Shape-Memory Intermetallics Development in Taiwan

In Taiwan, many groups engage in the development of TiNi SMAs. The two-stage martensitic transformations of and have been clarified for both TiNi binary and ternary alloys. The deformation behaviors have been investigated by cold-rolling, hot-rolling and wire drawing. Both shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity can be improved by some thermal-mechanical treatments. The damping characteristics of TiNi and TiNiX SMAs have also been systematically studied. Both B19'/B19 martensite (M)and R-phase(R) have high daming capacities due to the stress-induced movement of twin boundaries. Meanwhile, the addition of third elements-Fe and Cu-can largely increase the damping capacity.Recently, some high temperature shape memory alloys-TiHiPd and TiNi-.Au alloys-have also been intensively studied in Taiwan. All these potential investigations on the TiNi SMAs in Taiwan have attracted much attention and their important characteristics will be applied widely in the near future.