Title: Characterisation of TiNiNbZr quaternary alloy by atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation

Authors: Mairaj Ahmad

Addresses: Laboratory of Materials and Surface Engineering (LIMS), Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment (ICMA), University of Rome 'La Sapienza' Via Eudossiana, 18-00184 Rome, Italy; Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering (FMCE), GIK Institute, Topi, Distt. Swabi, 23640, KPK, Pakistan; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract: Effect of thermal treatments (solution treatment, annealing, and aging) and Zr content on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiNiNbZr quaternary alloy was investigated using optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro-Vicker, and nanoindentation. These samples were solution treated at 950°C for 1 hour, aged at 500°C for 1 hour, and annealed at 500°C before annealing the samples were cold rolled up to 10%. Optical results show that the growth of acicular martensite takes place due to a decrease in recrystallisation temperatures after cold rolling. Nanoindentation and micro-Vicker results show that hardness and elastic modulus increase due to solid solution strengthening. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show an increase in RMS roughness and mean roughness due to the coursing of acicular martensitic plates. The results of atomic force microscopy of indents show that pile up of materials takes place during deformation which is due to tensile stresses.

Keywords: atomic force microscopy; AFM; nanoindentation; advanced characterisation; nano and microhardness; elastic modulus; nitinol; TiNiNbZr quaternary alloy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2024.144229

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2024 Vol.15 No.4, pp.303 - 321

Received: 17 Oct 2022
Accepted: 10 Feb 2023
Published online: 03 Feb 2025 *

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