Transformation behavior and shape memory characteristics of thermo-mechanically treated Ti–(45−x)Ni–5Cu–xV (at%) alloys

Transformation behavior, shape memory characteristics and superelasticity of thermo-mechanically treated Ti–(45−x)Ni–5Cu–xV (at%) (x = 0.5–2.0) alloys were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractions, thermal cycling tests under constant load and tensile tests. The B2–B19′ transformation occurred when V content was 0.5 at%, above which the B2–B19–B19′ transformation occurred. The B2–B19 transformation was not separated clearly from the B19–B19′ transformation. Thermo-mechanically treated Ti–(45−x)Ni–5Cu–xV alloys showed perfect shape memory effect and transformation hysteresis(ΔT) of Ti–43.5Ni–5.0Cu–1.5V and Ti–43.0Ni–5.0Cu–2.0V alloys was about 9 K which was much smaller than that of a Ti–44.5Ni–5.0Cu–0.5V alloy(23.3 K). More than 90% of superelastic recovery ratio was observed in all specimens and transformation hysteresis (Δσ) of a Ti–44.5Ni–5.0Cu–0.5V alloy was about 70 MPa, which was much larger than that of a Ti–43.0Ni–5.0Cu–2.0V alloy (35 MPa).