MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC PHENOMENA OF NICKEL-TITANIUM SHAPE-MEMORYBIMETALLIC STRIPS FABRICATED BY EXPLOSIVE CLADDING AND ROLLING

In the present paper we report the fabrication of titanium/nickel bime tallic components by explosive cladding and rolling. The effect of the cladding and rolling parameters on the macrostructural and microstruc tural properties of the fabricated bimetallics is evaluated in terms o f ''surface integrity'' by using standard metallographic methods, micr ohardness testing, optical and scanning electron microscopy, and energ y-dispersive spectrometry. Interest is also directed towards the detai led characterization of the intermetallic compounds formed at the inte rface since certain Ti-Ni phases exhibit the so-called ''shape-memory' ' properties, desirable for electrical and electronic applications.