Metaestabilidade Estrutural do Sistema Ni-Ti-Ge Induzida por Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

A blend of elemental powders of Ni, Ti, Ge in the nominal composition Ni33Ti33Ge34 was subjected to mechanical alloying for 84h20min. The evolution of its structural and thermal characteristics was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld method (RM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Indeed, the inclusion of defects caused by milling induced a number of structural changes. I just five minutes of synthesis, it was ascertained the nucleation of intermetallics with crystallites sizes in nanometric dimensions. The formation of multiple phases is assigned to the low formation energy of the formed compound, among them the ternary alloy NiTiGe of the space group Pnma. From 2h20min, the crystalline structures undergo a remarkable degree of amorphization, reaching its maximum in 34h20min. Subsequently, in 59h20min, the metastability of the amorphous component gives rise to the re-nucleation of NiGe and Ni2.74Ge2 phases, which minimizing its free energy. In addition to this, the mechanical crystallization led to the formation of the TiO2-II high pressure phase and the B19’-NiTi shape memory alloy. In sequence, the amorphous content grows again and, with the growth of the tetragonal TiO2 phase, in 84h20min, the system recrystallizes and the milling was stopped. Therefore, it is observed that the system under study experiences a succession of metastable equilibrium due to the milling.