Properties of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Micro-Foils Obtained by Pulsed-Current Sintering of Ni/Ti Foils

Abstract

Successful one-step manufacturing of micro-foils of NiTi shape memory compound by pulsed-current sintering of nickel and titanium is reported. Sandwich-like starting configurations of Ni/Ti/Ni (ST1, ST4), Ti/Ni/Ti (ST3), and a simple Ni/Ti (ST2) one, were used. XRD and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed multistep martensitic transformation, much more pronounced for ST1 than for ST2 and ST3. SEM/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) measurements showed the predominant NiTi phase in ST1, ST4, and other intermetallic compounds in addition to it, for ST2 and ST3. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance for ST4 shows a peak corresponding to the R-phase and a high residual resistivity. The shape memory effect of 100% was obtained for ST1 and ST4, with the temperature range of its recovery dependent on the initial strain. The ST2 and ST3 materials revealed brittleness and a lack of plasticity due to the dominancy of the austenite phase and/or the intermetallic compound content.