In this study, we observed the effects of the processing-induced method on two different shape memory alloys (SMAs). First, we compare the transformation behavior of a martensitic NiTi SMA during thermal cycling using wide angle synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (WAXS). Based on the thermal cycling results, three observations about processing-induced SGAs as compared to SMAs can be seen: (1) retention of distorted austenite at high and low temperatures, (2) broadening of diffraction peaks in WAXS and disappearance of the thermal peaks in DSC measurements both due to induced strain, and (3) gradual increase in the amount of the martensitic phase. Second, we applied a processing-induced method to a FeMnAlCrNi alloy to examine the possibility of forming a strain glass alloy in an Fe-based system through sufficient dislocation formation via plastic deformation. This alloy was subjected to various percentages of cold work and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, Vickers hardness, WAXS data. The results indicate with 50% thickness reduction, stress-free thermal cycling no longer exhibits a measurable phase transformation, suggesting the successful formation of strain glass alloy through sufficient dislocation. The results of this research contribute significantly to the advancement of strain glass alloys (SGAs), especially with respect …

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have gained much attention as a powerful source of actuation due to their improved performance, reduced size, and reduced complexity between components as well as having a high work output density. Their primary mechanism of actuation relies on a non-diffusional cyclic phase transformation from martensite to austenite, where the amount of thermal energy needed per cycle is directly associated with the hysteresis width between the austenite final and martensite final temperatures. Consequently, a narrower gap between those two temperature ranges requires a much lower energy demand to produce the actuation needed. Previous studies have indicated that the hysteresis width is linked to a strong coherence between the austenite/martensite interface. It has been shown that elemental additions to NiTi-based SMAs can further improve this coherency. Another huge challenge facing this unique technology is linked with its thermo-mechanical stability. Binary NiTi SMAs often exhibit significant transformation temperature shifts after each thermo-mechanical cycle, which can contribute to a shorter lifespan. The primary goal of this project is to identify and develop thermo-mechanically stable, low hysteresis shape memory alloys (LHSMAs) for actuator applications. To accomplish this goal, elemental additions of Cu, Co, Hf, and Pd were incorporated into NiTi-based SMAs …

Current ways to alter the microstructure of materials are usually through heat treatments, alloying, and other physical metallurgical methods. Recent efforts in the 21st century are focused on altering the microstructure of a material without physical contact which can be achieved through exposure to a magnetic field (MF). The motivation of this research is to study the quantum effects by subjecting solid-state metals to exposure of MFs. Many of the popular metals currently used in industry are paramagnetic. The ability to alter the microstructure and thus properties of these paramagnetic materials through a magnetic field would open new avenues to the field of research, including, potentially, a pollution-free, non-contact route. The effects of a magnetic field on the mechanical properties of paramagnetic materials were observed through compression testing of the pure paramagnetic material samples induced in a magnetic field. XRD and PPMS were used to relate flow stress to dislocation density and magnetic property of the samples when exposed to the presence of a static magnetic field. The effects of a magnetic field relative to alloyed paramagnetic materials were observed through the same procedure as pure paramagnetic elements. For this purpose, -Ti alloys were chosen as literature suggests a phase …

Atom probe tomography as a 3D atomic-scale characterization tool has seen considerable development in the past decade, both in systems improvement and theoretical understanding. However, the time and expertise required from the outset of experimentation to analyzed results is highly asymmetric between metals and nonmetals. For complex oxides, this difficulty can be exemplified by GdBa2Cu3O7-x based high-temperature superconducting coated conductors. The objective of this dissertation is to further establish the experimental and theoretical knowledge required to effectively, and compositionally, study nanoscale defects in nonmetals using atom probe tomography; specifically, those influencing the electromagnetic properties of RBa2Cu3O7-x high temperature superconducting coated conductors. The results from this dissertation can be applied to other complex oxides, nitrides, carbides, or other nonmetallic systems, through the creation and use of an extensive open-source Python package, APAV.