High Temperature Shape Memory Alloys of Ni-Al Base Systems

Abstract

AbstractAn attempt to develop a new type of high temperature shape memory alloys based on the Ni-Al system has been made through microstructural control. Addition of Fe or Mn to the binary Ni-Al alloy results in the formation of a ductile fcc phase in an extremely brittle P matrix phase, leading to an improvement in its ductility. These ductile alloys with β + γ two-phase structure in the Ni-Al-Fe, Ni-Al-Mn and Ni-Al-Mn-Fe systems exhibit a shape memory effect due to a thermoelastic martensitic transformation in the temperature range between -100°C and 700°C; besides, the transformation temperatures are easily controlled by annealing at an appropriate temperature. These alloys are expected to be a new group of shape memory alloys which operate at elevated temperatures.