NiTi and NiTi-TiC composites: Part 1. transformation and thermal cycling behavior

The transformation behavior of titanium-rich NiTi containing 0 vol pet, 10 vol pct, and 20 vol pct equiaxed TiC particles was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermoelastic phase transformation of the unreinforced matrix exhibits multiple steps. Upon multiple transformation cycles, the rhombohedral phase (R phase) appears and all transformation temperatures decrease. The TiC particles inhibit the R phase and also lower some of the transformation temperatures. These effects can be explained by the internal misfit stresses resulting from both thermal expansion and transformation mismatch between matrix and reinforcement. The measured transformation enthalpy of bulk and reinforced NiTi is discussed in light of a thermodynamical model, taking into account the elastic energy stored upon cycling. The model indicates that a significant fraction of the matrix is stabilized and thus does not contribute to the transformation enthalpy.