Ni cluster formation in low temperature annealed Ni50.6Ti49.4

Various low temperature treatments of Ni[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text] have shown an unexpected effect on the martensitic start temperature. Periodic diffuse intensity distributions in reciprocal space indicate the formation of short pure Ni strings along the [Formula: see text]111[Formula: see text] directions in the B2 ordered lattice, precursing the formation of Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates formed at higher annealing temperatures.