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.