Crystallization kinetics and martensitic transformation of Ti49Ni46.5Ce4.5 alloy thin film

The Ti49Ni46.5Ce4.5 alloy thin film was prepared by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering system for the first time. Crystallization kinetics, phase composition and the behaviors of martensitic transformation were studied. The results by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) demonstrated that the primary second phase of TiNiCe alloy thin films was Ce2Ni7 phase, apparent activation energy was determined to be 510 kJ/mol at the continuous heating process, Avrami exponents for different isothermal temperature were in the range of 1.1-1.88 between 713 and 730 K, one-step martensitic transformation was observed in the crystallized Ti49Ni46.5Ce4.5 alloy thin films. The influence of thermal process on martensitic transformation temperature was investigated with non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization. The reason behind the transformation temperature change was also discussed.