Abstract
NiTi wires of 0.5 mm diameter were laser welded using a CW 100-W fiber laser in an argon shielding environment with or without postweld heat-treatment (PWHT). The microstructure and the phases present were studied by scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), transmissionelectron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The phase transformation behavior and the cyclic stress-strain behavior of the NiTi weldments were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cyclic tensile testing. TEM and XRD analyses reveal the presence of Ni4Ti3 particles after PWHT at or above 623 K (350 °C). In the cyclic tensile test, PWHT at 623 K (350 °C) improves the cyclic deformation behavior of the weldment by reducing the accumulated residual strain, whereas PWHT at 723 K (450 °C) provides no benefit to the cyclic deformation behavior. Welding also reduces the tensile strength and fracture elongation of NiTi wires, but the deterioration could be alleviated by PWHT.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1956-1965 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Metals and Alloys
- Mechanics of Materials