Revealing microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of resistance spot welded NiTi-stainless steel with Ni or Nb interlayer

Dissimilar welding of NiTi and stainless steel (SS) for multifunctional device fabrication is challenging due to the brittle nature of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) that are formed in the weld zone. In this work, Ni and Nb interlayers were applied for the resistance spot welding (RSW) of NiTi and SS to replace the harmful Fe2Ti phase and to restrict the mixing of dissimilar molten metals, respectively. Microstructural evolution and mechanical …