Nanosized precipitates in half-Heusler TiNiSn alloy

The microstructure of half-Heusler TiNiSn alloy has been investigated in this study. A high density of coherent nanosized Heusler precipitates was found within the half-Heusler matrix. Formation of these Heusler precipitates occurs by a phase separation process, where a single phase solid solution (half-Heusler-Heusler) decomposes into an equilibrium two-phase mixture of half-Heusler and Heusler regions. These Heusler nanoprecipitates improve the thermoelectric properties of the alloy.