TiNbSn alloy has high specific strength, low modulus of elasticity, excellent corrosion resistance, no side effects, such as toxic and exhibits shape memory effects after appropriate technical processing. This alloy may substitute as NiTi shape memory alloy to become the new generation of biological materials. It has been reported the studies of this alloy, such as the component and proportion, processing technology, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Based on the previous research, the bio-metal material, Ti-10Nb-5Sn alloy was heated and cooled repeatedly in a heater system located in TEM chamber and, at the same time, was observed in situ using a high resolution transmission electron microscope to study the memory property of the alloy and the mechanism of the transformation between austenite β and martensite phase. The results show that, during heating stage from 295K to 400K, the martensite began to dissolve at 355K, and the martensite disappeared completely at 385K, meanwhile, the austenite was created. During cooling stage from 400K to 295K, the martensite begins to take shape at 353K and the transformation was completed at 333K. The alloy can memory the room and high temperature structures, showing two-way memory functions. The high-temperature austenite of Ti-10Nb-5Sn alloy shows body-centered cubic β phase with the unit cell parameter a=0.3283nm; the martensite at room temperature shows orthorhombic NbTi4 phase (M) with the unit cell parameters a=0.3152nm, b=0.4854nm, c=0.4642nm. The orientation relationship between M phase and β phase is , , , , and . The crystal plane , as the habit plane, transforms into during the transformation from β to M phases. The martensite transformation mechanism is that the and transform to and through the tiny migration of atoms.
High-energy synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction measurements during in situ aging of a NiTi-15 at. % Hf high temperature shape memory alloy
