Effects of nanoprecipitation on the shape memory and material properties of an Ni-rich NiTiHf high temperature shape memory alloy

Shape memory properties of a Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 (at.%) polycrystalline alloy were characterized after selected heat treatments. The effects of heat treatment temperature and time on the transformation temperatures (TTs) and temperature hysteresis were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal cycling under constant compressive stress was carried out to reveal the changes in transformation strain, temperature hysteresis, and TT as a function of stress. Isothermal stress cycling experiments were conducted to reveal the critical stresses, transformation strain, and stress hysteresis as a function of temperature. The crystal structure and lattice parameters of the transforming phases were determined by X-ray diffraction at selected temperatures. Precipitate characteristics and martensite morphology were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Precipitation was found to alter the martensite morphology and significantly improve the shape memory properties of the Ni-rich NiTiHf alloy. For the peak aged condition shape memory strains of up to 3.6%, the lowest hysteresis, and a fully reversible superelastic response were observed at temperatures up to 240 °C. In general, the nickel-rich NiTiHf polycrystalline alloy exhibited a higher work output (≈16.5 J cm−3) than other NiTi-based high temperature alloys.