Microstructures and shape memory characteristics of a Ti–20Ni–30Cu (at.%) alloy strip fabricated by the melt overflow process

Melt overflow improved the workability and shape memory characteristics of a Ti–20Ni–30Cu (at.%) alloy by suppressing the formation of TiCu phase and introducing crystallographic defects such as dislocations. The fracture stress and strain of the alloy strip prepared by melt overflow were 445 MPa and 7.6%, respectively, which were larger than those of the alloy rod fabricated by conventional casting. Transformation hysteresis of the strip was 3.8 K under 120 MPa, which was much smaller than that of the rod.