Properties of Al/TiNi composite using porous TiNi fabricated by a self-propagating high temperature synthesis method

In the present study, equi-atomic porous TiNi shape-memory alloys have been successfully prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) using elemental titanium and nickel powders. The porous TiNi alloys thus obtained have an open porous structure with about 64 vol.% porosity, and the pore size is about 1.8 mm. The effect of preheating temperature on the microstructure has been investigated. It was found that the pore size increased with increasing preheating temperature. Moreover, the preheating temperature was shown to have a significant effect on the microstructure of the SHS-synthesized porous TiNi shape memory alloys. Aluminum was infiltrated into porous TiNi shape-memory alloys and the damping property of Al/TiNi was measured by a vibration analyzer (FFT analyzer). The specific damping capacity of Al/TiNi composites is 70% that of a pure TiNi ingot.