Experimental Investigations of Ni–Ti–Ru System: Liquidus Surface Projection and 1150 °C Isothermal Section

Ruthenium addition inhibits the formation of the topologically close-packed phases in Ni-based superalloys and improves the solid solution strength of Ni–Ti shape memory alloys. Therefore, the Ni–Ti–Ru phase stability is a very valuable indicator of the effects of Ru in Ni-based superalloys and Ni–Ti shape memory alloys. In this study, the isothermal section at 1150 °C and liquidus surface projection of the Ni–Ti–Ru ternary system were determined experimentally using the equilibrated alloy method and diffusion couple method, respectively. Alloys were prepared through the arc-melting of Ni, Ti, and Ru (all 99.99% purity), and then vacuum encapsulation in quartz tubes, followed by annealing at 1150 °C for 36 to 1080 h depending on the alloy composition. Diffusion couples were fabricated by joining one single-phase block (τ1) with one two-phase block (Ni3Ti + γ(Ni)), and the couples were annealed under vacuum at 1150 °C for 168 h. Reaction temperatures of as-cast alloys were determined by differential scanning calorimetry performed with heating and cooling rates of 10 °C/min. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the microstructure. Seven three-phase regions were found at the 1150 °C isothermal section. Seven primary solidification regions and five ternary invariant reactions were deduced in the liquidus surface projection. A new ternary compound τ1 was discovered in both the isothermal section at 1150 °C and liquidus surface projection. The results aid in thermodynamic modeling of the system and provide guidance for designing Ni-based superalloys and Ni–Ti shape memory alloys.