Abstract
The synthesis of NiTi alloy powders by hydrogen reduction and dehydrogenation process of NiO and $TiH_2$ powder mixtures is investigated. Mixtures of NiO and $TiH_2$ powders are prepared by simple mixing for 1 h or ball milling for 24 h. Simple-mixed mixture shows that fine NiO particles are homogeneously coated on the surface of $TiH_2$ powders, whereas ball milled one exhibits the morphology with mixing of fine NiO and $TiH_2$ particles. Thermogravimetric analysis in hydrogen atmosphere reveals that the NiO and $TiH_2$ phase are changed to metallic Ni and Ti in the temperature range of 260 to $290^{\circ}C$ and 553 to $639^{\circ}C$, respectively. In the simple-mixed powders by heat-up to $700^{\circ}C$, agglomerates with solid particles and solidified liquid phase are observed, and the size of agglomerates is increased at $1000^{\circ}C$. From the XRD analysis, the presence of liquid phase is explained by the formation and melting of $NiTi_2$ inter-metallic compound due to an exothermic reaction between Ni and Ti. The simple-mixed powders, heated to $1000^{\circ}C$, lead to the formation of NiTi phase but additional Ni-, Ti-rich and Ti-oxide phases. In contrast, the microstructure of ball-milled powders is characterized by the neck-grown particles, forming $Ni_3Ti$, Ti-oxide and unreacted Ni phase.
