Nanosized precipitates in half-Heusler TiNiSn alloy

The microstructure of half-Heusler TiNiSn alloy has been investigated in this study. A high density of coherent nanosized Heusler precipitates was found within the half-Heusler matrix. Formation of these Heusler precipitates occurs by a phase separation process, where a single phase solid solution (half-Heusler-Heusler) decomposes into an equilibrium two-phase mixture of half-Heusler and Heusler regions. These Heusler nanoprecipitates improve the thermoelectric properties of the alloy. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3679377]

本研究对半赫斯勒TiNiSn合金的微观结构进行了研究。在半赫斯勒基体中发现了高密度的相干纳米尺寸赫斯勒析出物。这些赫斯勒析出物是通过相分离过程形成的，在此过程中，单相固溶体（半赫斯勒 - 赫斯勒）分解为半赫斯勒和赫斯勒区域的平衡两相混合物。这些赫斯勒纳米析出物改善了合金的热电性能。（C）2012美国物理学会。[doi:10.1063/1.3679377]