Measurement of the lattice plane strain and phase fraction evolution during heating and cooling in shape memory NiTi

We report on in situ neutron diffraction measurements during heating and cooling through the phase transformation in shape memory NiTi. The lattice plane specific strain evolution remains linear with temperature and is not influenced by intergranular stresses, enabling the determination of the thermal expansion tensor of B19' NiTi. The neutron measurements are consistent with macroscopic dilatometric measurements and a 30 000 grain polycrystalline self-consistent model. The accommodative nature of B19' NiTi results in macroscopic shape changes being offset (with temperature) from the start and finish of the transformation. The texture does not evolve in the absence of biasing stresses. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3245308]