Application of Severe Plastic Deformation by Torsion to Form Amorphous and Nanocrystalline States in Large-Size TiNi Alloy Sample

Results of investigations of the initial structure of large-size Ti49.4Ni50.6 samples subjected to severe plastic deformation by torsion under a high pressure (HPT) are reported. The study was performed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and measurements of mechanical properties. Under an applied pressure of 6 GPa, the alloy was found to undergo a martensitic B2 -> B19' transformation. Even after HPT using a single revolution of anvils, the granular structure of titanium nickelide is refined so that there is formed a nanocrystalline state of B2 austenite (i.e., the reverse martensitic B19' -> B2 transformation occurs) and amorphization of the alloy begins. The HPT with a high number of revolutions leads to the almost complete amorphization of the alloy, which is explained by a high degree of shear deformation. In this case, all nanocrystalline inclusions in the amorphous matrix have an ordered B2 structure.