ABSTRACT
Ni-Ti is one of the most popular shape-memory alloys, a phenomenon resulting from a martensitic transformation. Commercial Ni-Ti-based alloys are often thermally treated to contain Ni(4)Ti(3) precipitates. The presence of these precipitates can introduce an extra transformation step related to the so-called R-phase. It is believed that the strain field surrounding the precipitates, caused by the matrix-precipitate lattice mismatch, lies at the origin of this intermediate transformation step. Atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy in combination with geometrical phase analysis is used to measure the elastic strain field surrounding these precipitates. By combining measurements from two different crystallographic directions, the three-dimensional strain matrix is determined from two-dimensional measurements. Comparison of the measured strain matrix to the eigenstrain of the R-phase shows that both are very similar and that the introduction of the R-phase might indeed compensate the elastic strain introduced by the precipitate.
ABSTRACT
The application of Nitinol in a wide variety of medical implants is progressively increasing because of its unique mechanical properties, durability and biocompatibility. However, as Nitinol consists of about 50 at.% of toxic Ni, certain applications are still hindered by the concern of free Ni release in the surrounding tissue. The latter is controlled by the structure of near-surface layers and can be strongly affected by various surface treatments. A proper application of advanced cross-section sample preparation techniques allows us to characterize the Nitinol near-surface structure down to the nanoscale by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Elemental maps of the Ti, O and Ni distribution, concentration profiles, quantification of composition as well as atomic resolution images at the surface of a Nitinol tubing are presented and the results obtained with different sample preparation and analytical characterization techniques are compared. In addition to a strong decrease of Ni towards the surface of the oxide layer and a Ti depleted layer underneath the oxide, also a possible transformation from TiO to TiO(2) is documented.
Subject(s)
Alloys , Biocompatible Materials , Alloys/chemistry , Alloys/toxicity , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/toxicity , Elasticity , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Materials Testing , Microscopy, Electron , Nickel/chemistry , Nickel/toxicity , Oxidation-Reduction , Prostheses and Implants , Surface Properties , Titanium/chemistryABSTRACT
Focused ion beam specimen preparation has been used for NiTi samples and SrTiO3/SrRuO3 multilayers with prevention of surface amorphization and Ga implantation by a 2-kV cleaning procedure. Transmission electron microscopy techniques show that the samples are of high quality with a controlled thickness over large scales. Furthermore, preferential thinning effects in multicompounds are avoided, which is important when analytical transmission electron microscopy measurements need to be interpreted in a quantitative manner. The results are compared to similar measurements acquired for samples obtained using conventional preparation techniques such as electropolishing for alloys and ion milling for oxides.
ABSTRACT
The atomic coordinates of the crystal structure of nanoscale Ni4Ti3 precipitates in Ni-rich NiTi is refined by means of a least-squares method based on intensity measures of electron-diffraction patterns. The optimization is performed in combination with density functional theory calculations and has yielded an R\bar 3 symmetry with slightly different atomic positions when compared with the existing structure. The new unit cell offers a better understanding of the lattice deformation from the B2 matrix.
