Effect of Annealing Temperature on Microstructure and Superelastic Properties of Ti-Au-Cr-Zr Alloy

Effect of annealing temperature on microstructure and superelasticity of Ti-4Au-5Cr-8Zr (mol%) was investigated. Only β phase was observed in the specimen annealed at 1173 K, whereas the precipitation of Ti₃Au, Zr₃₃Ti₄₀Au₂₇ (Laves phase) and α phase occurred in the specimens annealed below 1073 K. Superelasticity was clearly observed in the specimens annealed at 1073 K and 1173 K, though it was absent in the specimens annealed at 873 K and 973 K. The maximum superelastic recovery strain was increased by the precipitation of Ti₃Au in the specimen annealed at 1073 K. This is due to the increase in the critical stress for slip by the precipitation strengthening effect of Ti₃Au.