Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Metallic Glass Thin Films via Modification of Structural Heterogeneity.

The structure of Cu50Zr50 and Co56Ta35B9 metallic glass thin films (MGTF) was effectively tailored via various applied substrate temperatures by means of the magnetron sputtering technology. Obviously enhanced hardness and elastic modulus are achieved by different compositional MGTFs by increasing the substrate temperature. Compared with the CuZr MGTFs, the CoTaB MGTF deposited at 473 K displays the smaller strain-rate sensitivity exponent, m, and a weaker spectrum intensity based on the nanoindentation creep test, suggesting its better creep resistance. In addition, the STZ volume of the CoTaB MGTF significantly decreases after depositing at higher temperature. According to the nano-scratch analysis, the CoTaB MGTF at the substrate temperatures of 473 K performs the shallower scratch width and the larger H3/E2 value, indicating its better tribological property.

Effect of Fe Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of As-cast Ti49Ni51 Alloy.

Effect of Fe addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Ti49Ni51 alloy were investigated. The experimental results shows the microstructures of Ti48.5Ni51Fe0.5 and Ti48Ni51Fe1 alloys are mainly composed of TiNi matrix phase (body-centered cubic, BCC), Ti3Ni4 and Ni2.67Ti1.33 phases; the microstructure of Ti47Ni51Fe2 alloy is mainly composed of BCC TiNi, Ti3Ni4, Ni2.67Ti1.33, and Ni3Ti phases; the microstructure of the Ti45Ni51Fe4 alloy is mainly composed of TiNi, Ti3Ni4 and Ni3Ti phases. The Ni3Ti nanocrystalline precipitates at the adjacent position of Ni2.67Ti1.33 phase. The Ti48.5Ni51Fe0.5 and Ti48Ni51Fe1 alloys have high yield strength and fracture strength, and can be as the engineering materials with excellent mechanical properties. In addition, the Ti48.5Ni51Fe0.5 alloy with the low elastic modulus and large elastic energy is also a good biomedical alloy of hard tissue implants. The fracture mechanism of the four alloys is mainly cleavage fracture or quasi-cleavage fracture, supplemented by ductile fracture. The experimental data obtained provide the valuable references in application of as-cast alloys and heat-treated samples in the future.

Effect of Heat Treatment Temperature on Martensitic Transformation and Superelasticity of the Ti49Ni51 Shape Memory Alloy.

The martensitic transformation and superelasticity of Ti49Ni51 shape memory alloy heat-treatment at different temperatures were investigated. The experimental results show that the microstructures of as-cast and heat-treated (723 K) Ni-rich Ti49Ni51 samples prepared by rapidly-solidified technology are composed of B2 TiNi phase, and Ti3Ni4 and Ti2Ni phases; the microstructures of heat-treated Ti49Ni51 samples at 773 and 823 K are composed of B2 TiNi phase, and of B2 TiNi and Ti2Ni phases, respectively. The martensitic transformation of as-cast Ti49Ni51 alloy is three-stage, A→R→M1 and R→M2 transformation during cooling, and two-stage, M→R→A transformation during heating. The transformations of the heat-treated Ti49Ni51 samples at 723 and 823 K are the A↔R↔M/A↔M transformation during cooling/heating, respectively. For the heat-treated alloy at 773 K, the transformations are the A→R/M→R→A during cooling/heating, respectively. For the heat-treated alloy at 773 K, only a small thermal hysteresis is suitable for sensor devices. The stable σmax values of 723 and 773 K heat-treated samples with a large Wd value exhibit high safety in application. The 773 and 823 K heat-treated samples have large stable strain-energy densities, and are a good superelastic alloy. The experimental data obtained provide a valuable reference for the industrial application of rapidly-solidified casting and heat-treated Ti49Ni51 alloy.