The effect of aluminum additions on the thermal, microstructural, and mechanical behavior of NiTiHf shape memory alloys

•We investigate the effect of aluminum on the thermomechanical properties of NiTiHf alloys.•The nanoscale structure of the alloys are investigated by advanced analytical techniques.•The Al solubility limit in NiTiHf was near 3at.%.•Precipitation of both Heusler and Han phases are identified.•Al additions significantly affect transformation temperatures. Ni50Ti30−XHf20AlX (X=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5at.%) alloys were investigated using thermal, microstructural, and mechanical analysis. It was found that Al additions to this system decreased the transformation temperatures and thermal cyclic stability of the quaternary alloys. Also, the lenticular Han phase was observed in the aged 3–5% Al alloys in accordance with previous studies in literature performed at a similar aging temperature. Though no transformation was detected after DSC cycling down to −60°C for the aged 4% and 5% Al alloys, mechanical testing confirmed pseudoelasticity. Additionally, TEM and atom probe analysis confirmed that aging at 600°C resulted in precipitation of the Ni2TiAl Heusler phase and determined the Al solubility limit in the matrix as near 3at.%. Lastly, precipitation strengthening by the Heusler phase was observed when comparing the solution-treated and aged 4% and 5% Al alloys. Microstructural evolution was further characterized using XRD, SEM and compression testing.