Phase transformations, nickel

Martensitic phase transformations are discussed for the last hundred years without loss of actuality. A concise definition of these structural phase transformations has been given by G.B. Olson stating that martensite is a diffusionless, lattice distortive, shear dominant transformation by nucleation and growth . In this work we present ab initio zero temperature calculations for two model systems, FeaNi and CuZn close in concentration to the martensitic region. Iron-nickel is a typical representative of the ferrous alloys with fee bet transition whereas the copper-zink alloy undergoes a transformation from the open to close packed structure. ... 

This conclusion was additionally confirmed by Palczewska and Janko (67) in separate experiments, where under the same conditions nickel-copper alloy films rich in nickel (and nickel films as well) were transformed into their respective hydride phases, which were proved by X-ray diffraction. The additional argument in favor of the transformation of the metal film into hydride in the side-arm of the Smith-Linnett apparatus consists of the observed increase of the roughness factor ( 70%) of the film and the decrease of its crystallite size ( 30%) after coming back from low to high temperatures for desorbing hydrogen. The effect is quite similar to that observed by Scholten and Konvalinka (9) for their palladium catalyst samples undergoing the (a — j8) -phase transformation. 

Certain alloys of iron, nickel, and cobalt (Kovar, Fernico, etc.) have thermal expansion curves which nearly match those of borosilicate glasses, and a good bond may be formed between the two. Kovar is similar to carbon steel in its chemical properties. For example, it oxidizes when heated in air and is not wet by mercury. It may be machined, welded, copper brazed, and soft soldered. Silver solders should not be used with Kovar since they may cause embrittlement. At low temperatures Kovar undergoes a phase transformation, and the change in expansion coefficient below this temperature may be sufficient to cause failure of a glass-to-Kovar seal. The transformation temperature usually is below... 

Shape-memory alloys (e.g. Cu-Zn-Al, Fe-Ni-Al, Ti-Ni alloys) are already in use in biomedical applications such as cardiovascular stents, guidewires and orthodontic wires. The shape-memory effect of these materials is based on a martensitic phase transformation. Shape memory alloys, such as nickel-titanium, are used to provide increased protection against sources of (extreme) heat. A shape-memory alloy possesses different properties below and above the temperature at which it is activated. Below this temperature, the shape of the alloy is easily deformed due to its flexible structure. At the activation temperature, the alloy can be changed by applying a force, but the structure resists this deformation and returns back to its initial shape. The activation temperature is a function of the ratio of nickel to titanium in the alloy. In contrast with Ni-Ti, copper-zinc alloys are capable of a two-way activation, and therefore a reversible variation of the shape is possible, which is a necessary condition for protection purposes in textiles used to resist changeable weather conditions. 

Raney nickel electrocatalysts have also found useful applications as active electrodes for the HER (179, 180). The activity of Raney Ni catalysts is established after leaching out the base metal, Al or Zn. Choquette et al. (181) have examined the changes in morphology and composition of Raney-Ni composite catalytic electrodes accompanying dissolution of the base metal in concentrated NaOH. The depletion of Al from the Raney particles is, of course, accompanied by a major increase in real area with time of leaching and also, interestingly, with possible phase transformations (181). The electro-catalytic activity is, however, surprisingly, practically independent of time. 

As with Pd, these metals can be alloyed to lower the phase transformation temperatures and to inhibit nucleation of brittle hydrides. For example, according to Nishimura et al., the addition of nickel to vanadium to form V-15Ni (atom%), reduces the linear expansion from 3.3% in unalloyed V to 1.3% in the alloys under the same operating conditions [42]. This is attributed to reduced hydrogen solubility in the vanadium-nickel alloys [42]. 

Precipitation during the Tempering of a Nickel-Aluminum Bronze, Int. Conf. on Solid-to-Solid Phase Transformations, Proceedings (Pittsburgh, PA), TMS, 1982, p 745-749... 

The structural transformation between austenite and martensite occurs when the mechanical stress attains a certain level, or with an appropriate temperature change, A reversible twinning process takes place at the atomic level, which can result in superelastic behaviour and shape memory [8], The properties of the nickel-titanium endodontic instruments and orthodontic wires depend critically upon the nature and proportions of the NiTi phases in their microstructures, as discussed in the following sections. While X-ray diffraction has been used to study the phases in nickel-titanium endodontic instruments [15,16] and orthodontic wires [7,17,18], this analytical technique is limited to a near-surface region less than 50 pm in depth for metallic materials [19], and study of the phase transformations with temperature is not generally convenient. In contrast, DSC can provide information about the phases present in bulk nickel-titanium endodontic instruments and orthodontic wires with facility, and the effect of temperature changes on the NiTi phase transformations is easily studied. 

Since our pioneering study on as-received [22] nickel-titanium endodontic instruments, other DSC studies have confirmed that as-received instruments are in the superelastic condition, which persists after numerous sterilization cycles [28,29]. As would be expected, mechanical properties of these instruments are related to the phase transformation behaviour of the nickel-titanium alloy [30]. Accordingly, suitable elevated-temperature heat treatment may favourably alter the mechanical properties of these instruments [31,32], as was previously found for nickel-titanium orthodontic wires [21,33]. 

In contrast to 6a, 6b contained two crystallographi-cally independent nickel centers, which yielded two types of one-dimensional chains that are made of equivalent Ni(II) centers. The two chains are designated as Chain-A and Chain-B in Figure 5(d). The phase transformation accompanied a slide of Chain-B of about lA along the c-axis. The slide of the chains caused rotations of the nitrate anions by electrostatic interactions between nitrogen and oxygen atoms (N- O = 2.989(2) A) in both chains. However, while the NO3 plane of Chain-A became parallel to Ni(dps)2 n chains, NO3 plane of Chain-B became... 

Shape memory alloys (SMA) undergo solid-to-solid martensitic phase transformations, which allow them to exhibit large, recoverable strains [3]. Nickel-titanium, also known as nitinol (Ni for nickel, Ti for titanium, and nol for Naval Ordnance Lab), are high-performance shape memory alloy actuator materials exhibiting strains of up to 8% by heating the SMA above its phase transformation temperature - a temperature which can be altered by changing the composition of the alloy. 

Martensitic transformations can also occur in other alloys. Of special importance are shape memory alloys. The most commonly used are based on nickel and titanium. In these alloys, a reversible martensitic phase transformation can occur that will be briefly described here. 

A Kailer, YG Gogotsi, KG Nickel. Phase transformations of silicon caused by contact loading. J Appl Phys 81 3057-3063, 1997. 

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