On the Martensitic Transformation Temperatures and Mechanical Properties of NiTi Alloy Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting: Effect of Remelting

In this study, the infl uence of laser remelting on the relative density, martensitic transformation temperatures(MTTs), and mechanical properties of a NiTi alloy fabricated by selective laser melting(SLM) at a laser power between 15 and 75 W were investigated. A relative alloy density of approximately 99% was achieved in the power range of 45–60 W corresponding to the forming energy density range of 65.45–87.27 J/mm3. The MTTs increased with the increase in the energy density;thus, the initial contents of the B2 and B19′ phases of the SLM-produced NiTi alloy can be tailored by the utilized technique. However, the number of defects such as metallurgical pores and microcracks considerably increased at higher energy densities(> 87.27 J/mm3). Interestingly, the concentration of these defects was reduced by remelting in the energy density range of 21.82–65.45 J/mm3, while the alloy relative density increased to 99.7% ± 0.1% at a remelting energy density of 65.45 J/mm3. The results of tensile testing revealed that when the remelting energy was 75% or 100% of the forming energy input, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the alloy significantly increased. Therefore, the remelting strategy represents a promising route for manufacturing NiTi alloys with desired MTT ranges and mechanical properties.

First-principles study on the effect of Hf content on martensitic transformation temperature of TiNiHf alloy

In this paper a first-principles study of the electronic structure and stability of B2 Ti1-xNiHfx （x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6） and B19′ Ti1-xNiHfx（x = 0, 0.5） alloys is presented. The calculations are performed by the plane-wave pseudopotential method in the framework of the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. This paper calculates the lattice parameters, density of states, charge density, and heats of formation. The results show that the electronic structure and stability of B2 Ti1-xNiHfx change gradually with Hf content. However, Hf content has little effect on the electronic structure and stability of B19′ Ti1-xNiHfx. The mechanism of the effect of Hf content on martensitic transformation temperature of TiNiHf alloys is studied from the electronic structure.

Effect of Alloying Elements on Microstructure,Martensitic Transformation and Mechanical Properties of Ni-Mn Based Alloys

The microstructural features, shape memory behavior and mechanical properties of Ni-Mn based alloys were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and thermal cycling test under various stresses. The transformation temperatures shifted toward lower temperatures when adding a third element into the Ni-Mn system. The addition of 10 at. pct Fe increased considerably the mechanical properties exhibiting still high transformation temperatures. However, it was found that in NiMn40Fe10 alloy the martensitic transformation is not thermoelastic in nature. The mechanism of this transformation and the crystallography of Ni-Mn（50-x）-Fex （x=5, 7, 10, 20 at. pct） alloys are presented.

Relation between martensitic transformation temperature range and lattice distortion ratio of NiMnGaCoCu Heusler alloys

In order to study the relation between martensitic transformation temperature range AT （where AT is the difference between martensitic transformation start and finish temperature） and lattice distortion ratio （c/a） of martensitic transforma~ tion, a series of Ni46Mnz8_xGa22Co4Cux （x = 2-5） Heusler alloys is prepared by arc melting method. The vibration sample magnetometer （VSM） experiment results show that AT increases when x 〉 4 and decreases when x 〈 4 with x increasing, and the minimal AT （about 1 K） is found at x = 4. Ambient X-ray diffraction （XRD） results show that AT is proportional to c/a for non-modulated Ni46Mn28_xGa22Co4Cux （x = 2-5） martensites. The relation between AT and c/a is in agreement with the analysis result obtained from crystal lattice mismatch model. About 1000-ppm strain is found for the sample at x = 4 when heating temperature increases from 323 K to 324 K. These properties, which allow a modulation of AT and temperature-induced strain during martensitic transformation, suggest Ni46Mn24Ga22Co4Cu4 can be a promising actuator and sensor.

Effect of Titanium on the Martensitic Transformation Temperature of Cu-14Al-4Ni Shape Memory Alloy Rapidly Solidified

The present research aimed to analyze the influence that different contents of titanium(x=0.5,0.6 and 0.7 wt.%)have on the martensitic transformation temperature of a Cu-14Al-4Ni(wt.%)SMA(shape memory alloy).The Cu-14Al-4Ni-xTi samples were casted in an arc-melting furnace and rapidly solidified.All samples underwent heat treatment in a tubular furnace at a temperature of 1,100°C for 30 min and water quenched at 25°C.Subsequently,samples were analyzed by SEM(scanning electron microscopy)with EDS(energy dispersive spectroscopy),XRD(X-ray diffraction)and DSC(differential scanning calorimeter).SEM images and XRD patterns showed that the presence of titanium modified the alloy’s microstructure,induced the formation of three titanium rich phases called“X”phase(CuNi2Ti,Cu3Ti and AlCu2Ti)and reduced the presence of the brittle phaseγ2(Cu9Al4)for samples with 0.6 and 0.7 wt.%Ti.The titanium added to the copper based SMA also functioned as a refiner,reducing GS(grain size)up to approximately 80%with the increase of Ti content.DSC results exhibited low enthalpy levels,hysteresis,as well as low start martensitic transformation temperatures.

Influence of cooling rate on phase transformation and microstructure of Ti-50.9%Ni shape memory alloy

Heat treatment of Ti-50.9%Ni （mole fraction） alloy was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopey and energy dispersive X-ray analysis to investigate the influence of cooling rate on transformation behavior and microstructures of NiTi shape memory alloy. The experimental results show that three-stage phase transformation can be induced at a very low cooling rate such as cooling in furnace. The cooling rate also has a great influence on the phase transformation temperatures. Both martensitic start transformation temperature （Ms） and martensitic finish transformation temperature （Mf） decrease with the decrease of the cooling rate, and decreasing the cooling rate contributes to enhancing the M→A austenite transformation temperature. The phase transformation hysteresis （Af-Mf） increases with the decrease of the cooling rate. Heat treatment is unable to eliminate the textures formed in hot working of NiTi sample, but can weaken the intensity of them. The cooling rate has little influence on the grain size.

Machine learning-assisted efficient design of Cu-based shape memory alloy with specific phase transition temperature

The martensitic transformation temperature is the basis for the application of shape memory alloys(SMAs),and the ability to quickly and accurately predict the transformation temperature of SMAs has very important practical significance.In this work,machine learning(ML)methods were utilized to accelerate the search for shape memory alloys with targeted properties(phase transition temperature).A group of component data was selected to design shape memory alloys using reverse design method from numerous unexplored data.Component modeling and feature modeling were used to predict the phase transition temperature of the shape memory alloys.The experimental results of the shape memory alloys were obtained to verify the effectiveness of the support vector regression(SVR)model.The results show that the machine learning model can obtain target materials more efficiently and pertinently,and realize the accurate and rapid design of shape memory alloys with specific target phase transition temperature.On this basis,the relationship between phase transition temperature and material descriptors is analyzed,and it is proved that the key factors affecting the phase transition temperature of shape memory alloys are based on the strength of the bond energy between atoms.This work provides new ideas for the controllable design and performance optimization of Cu-based shape memory alloys.

EFFECT OF γ-IRRADIATION ON CuZnAl SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY

Effect of γ-irradiation on the shape memory alloy CuZnAl has been studied by the techniques of TEM,positron annihilation etc..The martensitic transformation temperature of the alloy increases obviously ofter γ-irradiation at a dose of 2×10~7 Gy but not for a dose of 1× 10~7 Gy.The shape memory effect in both irradiated alloys remains unaffected.