Effect of aluminum, iron and chromium alloying on the structure and mechanical properties of (Ti-Ni)-(Cu-Zr) crystalline/amorphous composite materials

High-strength crystalline/amorphous composites materials based on (Ti-Ni)-(Cu-Zr) system were developed. The optimal concentrations of additional alloying elements Al, Fe, and Cr were obtained. Structural investigations were carried out using X-ray diffraction equipment (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray module (EDX). It was found that additives of aluminum and chromium up to 5 at% dissolve well into the solid matrix solution of the NiTi phase. At a concentration of 5 at%, the precipitation of the unfavorable NiTi₂ phase occurs, which, as a result, leads to a dramatic decrease in ductility. Iron dissolves very well in the solid solution of the matrix phase due to chemical affinity with nickel. The addition of iron does not cause the precipitation of the NiTi₂ phase in the concentration range of 0–8 at%, but with an increase in concentration, this leads to a decrease in the mechanical properties of the alloy. The mechanical behavior of alloys was studied in compression test conditions on a universal testing machine. The developed alloys have a good combination of strength and ductility due to their dual-phase structure. It was shown that additional alloying elements lead to a complete suppression of the martensitic transformation in the alloys.