Phase transformations in Ti₂Ni₃ precipitates

The morphology and crystallography of transformation products of Ti₂Ni₃ in an aged Ti-52.0 at. pct Ni alloy have been studied by means of optical and electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Band-shaped surface relief was observed in optical micrographs at room temperature. Needle and antiphase-like domains were observed in electron micrographs at room temperature. The former correspond to the band-shaped relief seen in optical micrographs. The crystal structure of Ti₂Ni₃ at room temperature was confirmed to be monoclinic by electron diffraction. The needle-like domains and matrix are twin-related with respect to the {120} plane of the monoclinic structure. Upon heating, first the needle-like domains (low temperature phase) shrank and disappeared at about 50 °C, and then the antiphase-like domains (intermediate phase) disappeared at about 100 °C. Upon subsequent cooling, antiphase-like domains appeared and then needle-like domains appeared. These transformations are reversible upon thermal cycling. The antiphase-like domains in the intermediate phase disappeared with the growth of the needle-like domains and new antiphase-like domains appeared within the needles. The sequence of transformation events in the Ti₂Ni₃ phase was deduced by electron microscopy and diffraction to be as follows: parent phase (tetragonal) → intermediate phase characterized by antiphase-like domain morphology (orthorhombic) → low temperature phase characterized by needle-like domain morphology (monoclinic). In spite of some differences in crystallographic and morphological changes, the above phenomena are much like the R-phase transition associated with CDW's in TiNiFe alloys.