The Segregation of Chemical Composition in NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Melted by VIM in Lime Crucible

Binary NiTi shape memory alloy cast ingots with large scale size are produced by using vacuum induction melting (VIM) in lime crucible, the oxygen and carbon contents are less than 500ppm. Usually, oxygen was introduced into the melts by the dissolution of lime during melting, resulting in higher content of oxygen over 500ppm. VAR + VIM ingot metallurgy is prone to produce materials with a good chemical homogeneity. However, it is difficult for one single melting of NiTi by VIM in the lime crucible. So in the present paper, the segregation of chemical composition and the consistency of transformation temperature in NiTi alloys in as-casted condition along the cross-section area on edge and center, in homogeneization-treated condition, and in as-forged condition along the longitudinal-section area on head and tail, are measured and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), OM, SEM, and XRD, to indicate the chemical homogeneity in microscopic and macroscopic scale.