Microstructures and transformation behavior of Ti-Ni-Cu shape memory alloy powders fabricated by ball milling method

Abstract

Ti-Ni and Ti-Ni-Cu alloy powders have been fabricated by ball milling after which their microstructures and transformation behaviors were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The powders of as-milled Ti-Ni-Cu alloys whose Cu-content is less than 5 at.% were mixtures of crystal and amorphous, whereas those alloy powders whose Cu-content is more than 10 at.% were crystalline. The B19’ martensite is formed in the Ti-Ni-Cu alloy powders whose Cu-content is less than 10 at.%, whereas the B19 and B19’ martensites coexist in those whose Cu-content is more than 10 at.%. The martensitic transformation range became wider with increasing rotating speed, and so endothermic and exothermic peaks obtained from differential scanning calorimetry were indiscernible.