Simultaneously improved strength and toughness of hot-rolled brick-and-mortar TiNi/Ti2Ni intermetallic composite

Instead of conventional laminated composite fabricated in industry, the present study successfully, for the first time, produced nacre-like TiNi/Ti2Ni brick-and-mortar composite using industrial hot pressing and hot rolling. In comparison with laminated composite, this brick-and-mortar composite not only exhibited larger compressive strength and flexural strength but also showed higher ductility and initial fracture toughness. These excellent mechanical properties were originated from the brittle Ti2Ni bricks homogenously distributed among the ductile TiNi mortars. Attentionally, this brick-and-mortar microstructure inhibited the delamination between brittle and ductile constituents by stopping the easy crack propagation along the brittle constituent.