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Microstructure Evolution of Biphasic TiNi1+x Sn Thermoelectric Materials

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Abstract

The effects of thermal treatment on the microstructure of biphasic materials comprising half-Heusler (hH) and full-Heusler (fH) phases, as well as on their associated thermal conductivity, are discussed. The focus of this study was on a biphasic hH/fH alloy of nominal stoichiometry TiNi1.2Sn, synthesized by containerless (magnetic levitation) induction melting. The alloy samples were exposed to various heat treatments to generate microstructures containing second-phase precipitates ranging in size from ~10 nm to a few micrometers. The materials were characterized with regard to morphology, size, shape, and orientation relationship of the fH and hH phases, both of which were present as precipitates within larger regions of the counterpart phase. The solidification path of the alloy and its implications for the subsequent microstructure evolution during heat treatment were elucidated, and relationships with the ensuing thermal conductivity were characterized.

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Notes

  1. There is some confusion in Ref. [26] about the nature of the reaction at the intersection of the fH, hH, and Ti5Sn3 primary crystallization surfaces, but the microstructure is consistent with the scenario described in Figure 13(a). Note, however, that a true ternary peritectic reaction would involve 4 phases, not 3.

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Acknowledgments

This work was sponsored by the MRSEC Program of the National Science Foundation through DMR-1121053 and made use of the central facilities of the Materials Research Laboratory supported under the same grant. The Materials Research Laboratory is a member of the NSF-supported Materials Research Facilities Network. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship program provided support for JED under Grant DMR 1144085. NV gratefully acknowledges technical assistance of J. Hwang (UCSB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Department and Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-5050, USA

    Nisha Verma (Post-doctoral Researcher), Jason E. Douglas (Graduate Student), Stephan Krämer (Microscopy Facility Manager), Tresa M. Pollock (Professor), Ram Seshadri (Professor) & Carlos G. Levi (Professor)

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  1. Nisha Verma
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  2. Jason E. Douglas
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  3. Stephan Krämer
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Correspondence to Jason E. Douglas.

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Manuscript submitted February 23, 2016.

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Verma, N., Douglas, J.E., Krämer, S. et al. Microstructure Evolution of Biphasic TiNi1+x Sn Thermoelectric Materials. Metall Mater Trans A 47, 4116–4127 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-016-3549-9

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