Determining the rate of (β-Ti) decay and its influence on the sintering behavior of NiTi

Using quantitative differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) it was found that the amount of (beta-Ti) developed during the sintering of pure Ni and Ti powders up to 900 degrees C decreased from 50 wt% in a 90 mu m Ni/Ti powder to only 3 wt% in a 1.2 mu m Ni/Ti powder mixture. An additional isothermal hold step at 900, 940 or 950 degrees C further reduced the (beta-Ti) fraction. Analysis of the DSC data indicated that, at 900 degrees C, a hold time of 204, 21, 6.6 and 0.7 min would be required to completely remove (beta-Ti) from a 90, 38,10.7 and 1.2 mu m Ni/Ti mixture, respectively. In the case of the 901 mu m Ni/Ti mixture, increasing the hold temperature from 900 to 940 or 950 degrees C resulted in a reduction in the (beta-Ti) removal time from 204 to 137 and 86 min, respectively. Removal of (beta-Ti) from the microstructure eliminated melting at 942 degrees C and thus avoided a combustion reaction and the large-scale porosity it produces. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.