Development of a high-damping NiTi shape-memory-alloy-based composite

A NiTi/Mg composite was fabricated using a method that combines top-down pore-forming and pressureless infiltration processes. The phase constituents of this simple composite are B2-NiTi, B19'-NiTi and Mg phases. Both the size and the distribution of the Mg-phase are fine and homogeneous. The composite has very high mechanical strength and damping capacity, similar to 1.2 and 1.5-fold higher than those of a similar composite with different microstructures, respectively. These behaviors are generally attributed to the high damping capacity of Mg, the physical continuity of the composite, and the homogeneous distribution of fine Mg-phase, which generate more interfaces, contributing to the damping capacity. This composite is considered a good candidate for use as a damping material in engineering applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.