EBSD Microstructural Characterization of Ni50.8Ti49.2 Shape Memory Alloy

Functional properties of NiTi shape memory alloys depend also on microstructure and crystallographic texture, therefore an accurate control of texture of the NiTi semi-finished products is an important aspect for manufacturing of practical applications. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in conjunction with SEM analysis is an emerging and powerful tool for texture investigation of polycrystalline materials: grain morphology and crystallographic orientation can be locally mapped also on large scale. In this work EBSD was applied in crystal orientation mapping of Ni50.8Ti49.2 alloy at several thermo-mechanical conditions. The results pointed out the evolution of recrystallization texture as a function of hot and cold rolling processes on NiTi square wires. Preferred orientations were observed and correlated to the mechanical behavior of recrystallized wires.