Investigation of the structure stability and superelastic behavior of thermomechanically treated Ti-Nb-Zr and Ti-Nb-Ta shape-memory alloys

The superelastic parameters of Ti-Nb-Ta and Ti-Nb-Zr alloys, such as Young’s modulus, residual strain, and transformation yield stress after thermomechanical treatment (TMT), were determined during cyclic mechanical tests using the tension-unloading scheme (maximum strain 2% per cycle, ten cycles). The superelastic parameters and the alloy structure have been studied by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis before and after testing and after holding for 40 days, as well as after retesting. The Young’s modulus of the Ti-Nb-Ta alloy decreases from 30–40 to 20–25 GPa during mechanocycling after TMT by different modes; however, it returns to its original magnitude during subsequent holding for 40 days, and changes only a little during repeated mechanocycling. The Young’s modulus of the Ti-Nb-Zr alloy changes insignificantly during mechanocycling, recovers during holding, and behaves stably upon repeated mechanocycling. Surface tensile stresses arise during mechanocycling, which facilitate the development of martensitic transformation under load, orient it, and thereby promote a decrease in the transformation yield stress and the residual strain. The enhancement of the level of initial strengthening stabilizes the superelastic behavior during mechanocycling.