The martensitic transformation and superelasticity of Ti49Ni51 shape memory alloy heat-treatment at different temperatures were investigated. The experimental results show that the microstructures of as-cast and heat-treated (723 K) Ni-rich Ti49Ni51 samples prepared by rapidly-solidified technology are composed of B2 TiNi phase, and Ti3Ni4 and Ti2Ni phases; the microstructures of heat-treated Ti49Ni51 samples at 773 and 823 K are composed of B2 TiNi phase, and of B2 TiNi and Ti2Ni phases, respectively. The martensitic transformation of as-cast Ti49Ni51 alloy is three-stage, A→R→M1 and R→M2 transformation during cooling, and two-stage, M→R→A transformation during heating. The transformations of the heat-treated Ti49Ni51 samples at 723 and 823 K are the A↔R↔M/A↔M transformation during cooling/heating, respectively. For the heat-treated alloy at 773 K, the transformations are the A→R/M→R→A during cooling/heating, respectively. For the heat-treated alloy at 773 K, only a small thermal hysteresis is suitable for sensor devices. The stable σmax values of 723 and 773 K heat-treated samples with a large Wd value exhibit high safety in application. The 773 and 823 K heat-treated samples have large stable strain-energy densities, and are a good superelastic alloy. The experimental data obtained provide a valuable reference for the industrial application of rapidly-solidified casting and heat-treated Ti49Ni51 alloy.
Keywords: Ti–Ni alloy; martensitic transformation; shape memory alloy; superelasticity.