Todd Leslie King

Mechanical behavior and phase stability of NiAl-based shape memory alloys

NiAl-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) can be made ductile by alloying with 100--300 wppm B and 14--20 at.% Fe. The addition of Fe has the undesirable effect that it lowers the temperature (A{sub p}) of the martensite {yields} austenite phase transformation. Fortunately, however, A can be raised by lowering the ``equivalent`` amount of Al in the alloy. In this way a high A{sub p} temperature of {approximately}190 C has been obtained without sacrificing ductility. Furthermore, a recoverable strain of 0.7% has been obtained in a Ni-Al-Fe alloy with A{sub p} temperature of {approximately}140 C. Iron additions do not suppress the aging-induced embrittlement that occurs in NiAl alloys at 300--500 C as a result of Ni{sub 5}Al{sub 3} precipitation. Manganese additions (up to 10 at.%) have the effect of lowering A{sub p}, degrading hot workability, and decreasing room-temperature ductility.