Thermodynamically Guided Improvement of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni Shape-Memory Alloys.

A microstructural informed thermodynamic model is utilized to tailor the pseudoelastic performance of a series of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape-memory alloys. Following this approach, the influence of the stability and the amount of the B2-ordered precipitates on the stability of the austenitic state and the pseudoelastic response is revealed. This is assessed by a combination of complementary nanoindentation measurements and incremental-strain tests under compressive loading. Based on these investigations, the applicability of the proposed models for the prediction of shape-memory capabilities of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni alloys is confirmed. Eventually, these thermodynamic considerations enable the guided enhancement of functional properties in this alloy system through the direct design of alloy compositions. The procedure proposed renders a significant advancement in the field of shape-memory alloys.

Formation of Nanoscale Al2O3 Protective Layer by Preheating Treatment for Improving Corrosion Resistance of Dilute Fe-Al Alloys.

In this work, an attempt was made to improve the corrosion resistance of dilute Fe-Al alloys (1.0 mass% Al) by preheating treatment at 1073 K in H2 atmosphere. In comparison with pure Fe and unpreheated Fe-Al alloys, the resistance to oxidation at 673 K in pure O2 and to electrochemical corrosion in 5 wt.% NaCl solution is significantly improved for preheated Fe-Al alloys. This improvement is attributed to the formation of a 20 nm thin, but dense Al2O3 protective layer on the surface of preheated Fe-Al alloys.

Single Femtosecond Laser-Pulse-Induced Superficial Amorphization and Re-Crystallization of Silicon.

Superficial amorphization and re-crystallization of silicon in <111> and <100> orientation after irradiation by femtosecond laser pulses (790 nm, 30 fs) are studied using optical imaging and transmission electron microscopy. Spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry (SIE) allows fast data acquisition at multiple wavelengths and provides experimental data for calculating nanometric amorphous layer thickness profiles with micrometric lateral resolution based on a thin-film layer model. For a radially Gaussian laser beam and at moderate peak fluences above the melting and below the ablation thresholds, laterally parabolic amorphous layer profiles with maximum thicknesses of several tens of nanometers were quantitatively attained. The accuracy of the calculations is verified experimentally by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX). Along with topographic information obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM), a comprehensive picture of the superficial re-solidification of silicon after local melting by femtosecond laser pulses is drawn.

The effect of heating rate on the surface chemistry of NiTi.

The impact of the heating rate on the Ni content at the surface of the oxide layer of biomedical NiTi is explored. Heat treatment emulating common shape-setting procedures was performed by means of conventional and inductive heating for similar annealing time and temperature, applying various heating rates from ~0.25 K s(-1) to 250 K s(-1). A glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy method was established and employed to evaluate concentration profiles of Ni, Ti and O in the near-surface region at high resolution. The Ni content at the surface of the differently treated samples varies significantly, with maximum surface Ni concentrations of ~20 at.% at the lowest and ~1.5 at.% at the highest heating rate, i.e. the total amount of Ni contained in the surface region of the oxide layer decreases by >15 times. Consequently, the heating rate is a determinant for the biomedical characteristics of NiTi, especially since Ni available at the surface of the oxide layer may affect the hemocompatibility and be released promptly after surgical application of a respective implant. Furthermore, apparently contradictory results presented in the literature reporting surface Ni concentrations of ~3 at.% to >20 at.% after heat treatment are consistently explained considering the ascertained effect of the heating rate.

Effect of thermomechanical pre-treatment on short- and long-term Ni release from biomedical NiTi.

The effect of annealing and deformation on short-term (21days) and long-term (8months) Ni release from biomedical NiTi wires is studied. The deformation of annealed NiTi wires causes cracking and flaking of the surface oxide layer. Flaking of oxide particles does not uncover the Ni-rich layer underneath the surface oxide layer, since at sites where flaking occurs, a thin (∼25nm) layer of oxide remains on top of this Ni-rich layer. The number of cracks in the oxide and Ni-rich layer, respectively, increases with deformation, and intercrystalline crack propagation into the Ni-rich layer and the NiTi bulk is observed. In plastically deformed wires, the cracks may remain opened, providing access of immersion liquid to these zones. Characteristics and quantity of short-term Ni release are significantly affected by the pre-deformation, resulting in an up to 2 times higher total Ni release within the first 21days of deformed compared to annealed wires. Pre-deformation does not significantly influence long-term Ni release; all annealed and deformed samples exhibit similar long-term Ni release rates. The source of Ni during short-term release is the Ni contained in the surface zone of the oxide layer. For high pre-deformation, the Ni-rich layer is a second source for Ni. This second source is also the cause for Ni release in long-term immersion experiments.