The compositional stability of the P-phase in Ni–Ti–Pd shape memory alloys

• The compositional limits of the P-phase were systematically studied in Ni–Ti–Pd.
• Ti2Pd3, B2 NiTi, P- and P1-phases were identified by electron and x-ray diffraction.
• P1-phase becomes more stable with increasing Ni at the expense of Pd content.
• APT revealed the P1-phase composition to be 44.7Ti– 45.8Ni–9.4Pd (at.%) or Ti5Ni5Pd.

The precipitation of the P-phase in Ni–Ti–Pd and Ni–Ti–Pt shape memory alloys has been shown to dramatically increase the martensitic transformation temperature and strength in Ni-rich ternary alloys, yet little is known about the phase's compositional stability. Therefore, the compositional limits of the P-phase have been systematically studied by varying the Pd and Ni content while maintaining the general P-phase Ti11(Ni + Pd)13 stoichiometry. Each alloy was solutionized at 1050 °C followed by water quenching, and aging at 400 °C for 100 h. Four distinct phases were identified by electron and x-ray diffraction: Ti2Pd3, B2 NiTi, P- and P1-phases. The latter precipitate phases became more stable with increasing Ni at the expense of the Pd content. Atom probe tomography revealed the P-phase composition to be 45.8Ti–29.2Ni–25Pd (at.%) or Ti11(Ni7Pd6) as compared to the P1-phase 44.7Ti– 45.8Ni–9.4Pd (at.%) or Ti5Ni5Pd.