Effect of Mn incorporation for Ni on the properties of melt spun off-stoichiometric compositions of NiMnGa alloys

The investigation addresses the effect of Mn incorporation for Ni on the properties of a series of Ni_77−xMn_xGa₂₃ (x=22-29; at%) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys prepared in the form of ribbons by a melt spinning technique. Phase transformation studies in these ribbons by differential scanning calorimetry revealed that austenitic start and martensitic start temperatures decreased with the increase in Mn content. The Curie temperature (T_C) of these alloys determined from thermal variation of magnetisations was found to rise with increasing Mn content. The martensitic transformation temperatures were above T_C in low Mn containing (x=22 and 23) alloys. Morphology observed through transmission electron microscopy manifested complex martensitic features in the alloy with x=22 while x=29 had an austenitic phase. The alloys with intermediate Mn content (x=24, 25) had overlapping magnetic and martensitic transformations close to room temperature. The thermal lag between austenitic and martensitic characteristic temperatures in these alloys has been corroborated to their structural state. X-ray diffraction indicated a predominant martensite phase and austenite phase in low and high Mn containing alloys respectively. In-situ diffraction studies during thermal cycle indicate martensite-austenite transformations.     

High-temperature shape memory effect and the B2-L10 thermoelastic martensitic transformation in Ni-Mn intermetallics

The properties and structure of the martensitic phase of alloys with a near-stoichiometric equiatomic Ni₅₀Mn₅₀ composition, as well as martensitic transformations in them, are investigated in a wide temperature range by measuring the resistivity and thermal expansion coefficient and applying transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction. It is found that Ni₅₀Mn₅₀ and Ni₄₉Mn₅₁ alloys experience the B2 → L1₀ highly reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformation and its related high-temperature deformation of the transformation and shape memory effect. Critical temperatures, volume (ΔV/V = ?1.7%) and linear size effects attributed to the direct and reverse martensitic transformations, and the high-temperature dependences of the martensitic and austenite lattice parameters are determined. It is found that the morphology of tetragonal L1₀ martensitic represents a hierarchy of thin coherent sheets of submicrocrystallites and nanocrystallites with plane near-{111}L1₀ habit boundaries, the crystallites being pairwise twinned according to the {111}〈11 $\bar 2$ 〉 _L10 ∥ {011}〈-1 $\bar 1$ 〉 _B2 twinning shear scheme.     

The effect of Si content on the martensitic transfor-mation temperature of Ni55.5e18Ga26.5-xSix alloys

This paper investigates the effects of substitution of Si for Ga on the martensitic transformation behaviours in Ni-Fe-Ga alloys by using optical metallographic microscope and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The structure type of Ni_55.5Fe₁₈Ga_26.5-xSi_x alloys is determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), and the XRD patterns show the microstructure of Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloys transformed from body-centred tetragonal martensite (with Si content x = 0) to body-centred cubic austenite (with x = 2) at room temperature. The martensitic transformation temperatures of the Ni_55.5Fe₁₈Ga_26.5-xSi_x alloys decrease almost linearly with increasing Si content in the Si content range of x ≤ 3. Thermal treatment also plays an important role on martensitic transformation temperatures in the Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloy. The valence electronic concentrations, size factor, L2₁ degree of order and strength of parent phase influence the martensitic transformation temperatures of the Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloys. An understanding of the relationship between martensitic transformation temperatures and Si content will be significant for designing an appropriate Ni-Fe-Ga-Si alloy for a specific application at a given temperature.     

Effect of cobalt doping on thermoelastic martensitic transformations and physical properties of magnetic shape memory alloys Ni50 − x Co x Mn29Ga21

The magnetic and thermoelastic martensitic transformations and physical properties (magnetization, electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, relative elongation, and thermal expansion coefficient) of multicomponent magnetic shape memory alloys Ni_{50 ? x} Co _x Mn₂₉Ga₂₁ (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 10 at %) have been investigated. The critical temperatures of thermoelastic martensitic transformation and magnetic transitions have been determined. It has been found that the alloy with 10 at % Co undergoes a martensitic transformation in the temperature range of 6–10 K.     

Crystal structure and physical properties of magnetic shape memory alloys Ni50 − x Cu x Mn29Ga21

The phase composition, crystal structure, and physical properties (magnetization, electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, relative elongation, and thermal expansion coefficient) of the stoichiometric alloy Ni₅₀Mn₂₅Ga₂₅ and nonstoichiometric alloys Ni_{50 ? x} Cu _x Mn₂₉Ga₂₁ (x = 0, 1, 2) with the thermoelastic martensitic transformation have been investigated. The influence of the chemical composition on the transformations and physical properties of the alloys has been determined.     

Baroelastic shape memory effects in titanium nickelide alloys subjected to plastic deformation under high pressure

The effects of a high pressure and torsional plastic deformation in Bridgman anvils on the structure and phase transformations in titanium nickelide-based shape memory alloys are studied by electron microscopy, neutron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction. The physical properties of the alloys are measured. It is found that the baroelastic effects related to the highly reversible B2 ? B19?? martensitic transformation can occur in metastable austenitic titanium nickelide alloys in both the standard polycrystalline and nanocrystalline states under high pressure.     

Si掺杂的铁磁形状记忆合金Co50Ni21Ga29Six的物性研究

成功生长了Co₅₀Ni₂₁Ga₂₉:Si(x=1,2)单晶样品,对其磁性,马氏体相变及其相关性质进行了细致的测量.发现掺Si成分的单晶具有非常迅速的马氏体相变行为、2.5％的大相变应变、大于100 ppm的磁感生应变和4.5％的相变电阻.进一步研究指出,在CoNiGa合金中掺入适量Si元素,能够降低材料的马氏体相变温度,减小相变热滞后,提高材料的居里温度,并使得磁性原子的磁矩有所降低.尤其重要的是Si元素的添加能够增大材料马氏体的磁晶各向异性能,改善马氏体变体的迁移特性,从而获得更大的磁感生应变. 关键词： 铁磁形状记忆合金 Heusler合金 50Ni₂₁Ga₂₉Si_x')" href="#">Co₅₀Ni₂₁Ga₂₉Si_x     

Martensitic transformations and magnetic properties of nonstoichiometric alloys of the Ni-Mn-In system

Martensitic transformations and magnetic properties of Ni_89-x Mn _x In₁₁ (42 ≤ x ≤ 44) alloys have been investigated. Critical temperatures of magnetic and structural phase transitions in the studied alloy system have been determined. It has been shown that the martensitic transformation induced by the magnetic field is observed in all alloys. Temperature dependences of the spontaneous magnetization of austenite and martensite as well as the magnitude of the critical field, in which martensitic transformation occurs, have been determined.     

Phase and structural transformations in Ni-Mn alloys alloyed with aluminum

NiMn alloys alloyed with aluminum in a wide range of temperatures and compositions have been investigated by resistivity measurements, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction. It is found that the martensitic transformation temperature decreases with an increase in the aluminum content in an alloy. The martensitic transformation temperatures were determined and the full diagram of martensitic transformations for Ni-Mn-Al alloys was constructed. It is established that alloying with aluminum leads to a change in the type of the martensite crystal structure.     

四元Heusler合金NiMnFeGa中Fe原子的磁性贡献

用熔炼和甩带的方法制备了组分为Ni₅₀Fe_xMn_25-xGa ₂₅(x=0—25) 的系列样品.x射线衍射实验结果表明，当Fe取代Mn的含量x＜17时，用熔炼和甩带的方法均 能合成高度有序的L2₁结构的Heusler相.而当x＞17时，普通熔炼方法只能得到 低有序度的 γ相，只有采用甩带急冷的方法才能获得高度有序的纯L2₁结构的化合物.根据 交流磁化率 和分子磁矩的测试结果，初步分析了Fe原子对化合物磁性的贡献，认为Fe原子占据了Mn原子 的位置后，具有高于一般含铁合金的原子磁矩，可达2.55—3.55μ_B. 关键词： Heusler合金 50Fe_xMn_25-xGa_{25')" href="#">Ni50FexMn25-xGa25}     

Determination of photocatalytic activity in amorphous and crystalline titanium oxide films prepared using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Hydro-oxygenated amorphous titanium oxide (a-TiO_x:OH) films were prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using precursors of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and oxygen. The influences of chemical states and crystal quality on the photocatalytic activity were systematically investigated in the as-deposited and post-annealed films. The degree of the photocatalytic activity was deeply correlated with the porosity related to the hydroxyl (OH) groups in the as-deposited amorphous film. The crystallized anatase structures was observed from the 200 °C-deposited a-TiO_x:OH film after a post-annealing treatment at 400 °C. The photocatalytic activity related to the film with anatase structure was markedly superior to that of an amorphous film with porous structures. The larger the crystal size of the anatase structure, the higher the photocatalytic activity obtained. At elevated annealed temperatures, the inferior anatase structure due to the crystalline transformation led to a low photocatalytic activity. It was concluded that the photocatalytic activity of an amorphous TiO_x film prepared using PECVD was determined by the porosity originating from the functional OH groups in the film, whereas the crystalline quality of anatase phase in the annealed poly-TiO_x film was crucial to the photocatalytic activity.     

Formation of nanostructured states in ternary TiNiFe-based shape memory alloys during megaplastic deformation and subsequent heat treatment

The ternary metastable TiNiFe alloys that exhibit a low-temperature shape memory effect and are subjected to plastic deformation by rolling or high-pressure torsion followed by heat treatment are studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrical resistivity measurements. It is found that moderate plastic deformation of a Ti₅₀Ni₄₉Fe₁ alloy at room temperature initiates the thermoelastic B2 ? B19’ martensitic transformation and the formation of a developed banded dislocation and twin substructure in the B19’ martensite. This deformation of a Ti₅₀Ni₄₇Fe₃ alloy forms a similar dislocation substructure but in B2 austenite. Megaplastic deformation by high-pressure torsion causes amorphization in the Ti₅₀Ni₄₉Fe₁ alloy and nanofragmentation in the Ti₅₀Ni₄₇Fe₃ alloy. The evolution of the nanostructure and the martensitic transformations in TiNiFe-based ternary alloys is studied during plastic deformation and subsequent annealing at various temperatures.     

Fine structure and mechanical properties of the shape-memory Ni<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>32</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>18</Subscript> alloy rapidly quenched by spinning

We have reported the results of investigations of the structure and chemical and phase compositions of the amorphous Ni₅₀Ti₃₂Hf₁₈ alloy prepared by rapid quenching from melt by spinning and subjected to heat treatments. The specific features of the fine polycrystalline alloy structure formation depending on the heat-treatment mode have been studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, chemical microanalysis, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction analysis. According to the data on the temperature behavior of electrical resistivity, critical temperatures of devitrification and subsequent thermoelastic martensitic transformation B2 → B19′ have been determined. The mechanical properties in different heat-treatment modes have been investigated.     

The structural and magnetic properties of Ni2Mn1−xBxGa Heusler alloys

The influence of the substitution of manganese by boron on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Ni₂Mn_1−xB_xGa Heusler alloys with 0?x?0.5 has been investigated using X-ray diffraction, thermal expansion, resistivity, and magnetization measurements. The samples with concentrations x<0.25 were found to be of single phase and belonged to the cubic L2₁ crystal structure at room temperature. Crystal cell parameters of the alloys decreased from 5.830 to 5.825 Å with increasing boron concentration (x) from 0 to 0.25. The alloys were ferromagnetically ordered at 5 K and the saturation magnetization decreased with increasing boron concentration. The ferromagnetic ordering and structural transition temperatures for 0?x?0.3 have been observed and the phase (x−T) diagram of the Ni₂Mn_1−xB_xGa system was constructed. The phase (x−T) diagram indicates that the ground state of Ni₂Mn_1−xB_xGa alloys belongs to ferromagnetic martensitic, premartensitic, and austenitic phases in x?0.12, 0.12<x?0.18, and 0.18<x?0.3, respectively. The relative influence of cell parameters and electron concentrations on the phase diagram is discussed.     

Investigations of crystal and magnetic properties of the Mn5−xFexGe3 intermetallic compounds

The Mn_5?xFe_xGe₃ intermetallic compounds are investigated with X-ray, neutron diffraction, magnetometric and Mössbauer effect methods. It is found that crystal structure of x = 1 compound is of D8₈ type while the structure of x = 3, 4 and 5 compounds is of B8₂ type. All are ferromagnets with collinearly ordered atomic spins. The lattice constants are derived from X-ray diffraction patterns, while magnetometric measurements yield the Curie temperatures and Weiss constants as well as the values of magnetic moments per molecule in ferromagnetic and paramagnetics states. The distributions of Fe and Mn atoms among two non-equivalent crystal sites are determined with the neutron diffraction method and are confirmed by the Mössbauer effect measurements. The parameters of hyperfine interactions are derived from Mössbauer absorption spectra and are attributed to iron atoms in two non-equivalent crystal sites.     

The discovery of a 2H–6H solid state transformation in ZnxCd1−xS single crystals

Single crystals of Zn_xCd_1?xS have been grown from the vapour phase at 1100°C in the presence of H₂S gas. X-ray diffraction studies of the as-grown crystals show that polytypism and stscking faults occur in Zn_xCd_1?xS crystals for x ? 0.94. It is observed that for 0.92 < x < 0.98 the 2H structure of Zn_xCd_1?xS crystals transforms to a disordered 6H structure on annealing in vacuum around 600°C. For 0.95 < x < 0.98 this 6H structure finally transforms to a disordered 3C structure on annealing further at higher temperatures around 800°C. The structural transformations occur through a non-random insertion of stacking faults, as revealed by the diffuse streak joining the X-ray diffraction maxima along the 10.L reciprocal lattice row. Experimental investigation of the diffuse intensity distribution, as recorded on a single crystal diffractometer from partially transformed single crystals, reveals that the mechanism of the transformation is very different from that reported for the same transformation in silicon carbide and cannot be described in terms of a single-parameter model of non-random deformation faulting.     

Experimental valence-band study of Ti(NiCu) alloys with different compositions and crystal structures

The density of valence-band electronic states of Ti(NiCu) alloys with different crystal structures and elemental compositions has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been established that the change in the crystal state initiated by a martensitic transformation or a transition from the amorphous state to the crystal state does not affect the valence-band electronic state density distribution of the Ti₅₀Ni₅₀ and Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloys. It has been shown that a change in the elemental composition leads to a noticeable redistribution of the electronic density in alloys of the Ti₅₀Ni_{50 ? x} Cu _x system (x = 0, 10, 15, 25, 30, 38, 50 at. %). As the copper concentration in the Ti(NiCu) alloys increases, the contribution of the Ni d states in the vicinity of the Fermi level decreases, with the d band of nickel shifting toward higher binding energies, and that of copper, toward lower binding energies.     

Nanocrystalline platinum layer deposited on NiTiCu shape memory strip

The Ni₂₅Ti₅₀Cu₂₅ shape memory strip was covered by thin nanocrystalline platinum layer. Structure of the layer was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Transformation temperatures were determined using differential scanning calorymetry (DSC). The studies show that the layer reveals nanocrystalline structure with average crystalline size of 44 nm. Lattice distortion was relatively low –0.19%. Almost 25% of total grains are oriented along 〈111〉 direction. It was stated that the nanocrystalline platinum layer does not limit martensitic transformation in the covered strip, which reveals one step reversible martensitic transformation from the parent B2 phase to the orthorhombic martensite B19 phase. Also no influence of the layers on the shape recovery was noticed.     

Structure and thermoelastic martensitic transformations in ternary Ni–Ti–Hf alloys with a high-temperature shape memory effect

The effect of alloying by 12–20 at % Hf on the structure, the phase composition, and the thermoelastic martensitic transformations in ternary alloys of the quasi-binary NiTi–NiHf section is studied by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction. The electrical resistivity is measured at various temperatures to determine the critical transformation temperatures. The data on phase composition are used to plot a full diagram for the high-temperature thermoelastic B2 ? B19’ martensitic transformations, which occur in the temperature range 320–600 K when the hafnium content increases from 12 to 20 at %. The lattice parameters of the B2 and B19’ phases are measured, and the microstructure of the B19’ martensite is analyzed.     

Temperature evolution of the crystal structure of Bi1 − x Pr x FeO3 solid solutions

The crystal structure of solid solutions in the Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ system near the structural transition between the rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases (0.125 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) has been studied. The structural phase transitions induced by changes in the concentration of praseodymium ions and in the temperature have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been established that the sequence of phase transformations in the crystal structure of Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ solid solutions with variations in the temperature differs significantly from the evolution of the crystal structure of the BiFeO₃ compounds with the substitution of other rare-earth elements for bismuth ions. The regions of the existence of the single-phase structural state and regions of the coexistence of the structural phases have been determined in the investigation of the crystal structure of the Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ solid solutions. A three-phase structural state has been revealed for the solid solution with x = 0.125 at temperatures near 400°C. The specific features of the structural phase transitions of the compounds in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary have been determined by analyzing the obtained results. It has been found that the solid solutions based on bismuth ferrite demonstrate a significant improvement in their physical properties.