Fig. 1. Band contrast map and grain boundary character distribution of solution-treated 60NiTi alloy (a). Black and blue lines respectively represent HABs and LABs. All Euler map (b) and grain size distribution figure (c) of solution-treated 60NiTi alloy. Schematic diagram of ideal texture components of bcc alloys in the φ2 = 45° section of ODF (d). The texture of solution-treated 60NiTi alloy in the φ2 = 45° section of ODF (e).

Fig. 2. BF image (a) and SAED pattern (b) of solution-treated 60NiTi alloy along [111]B2 zone axis. HRTEM image and corresponding FFT diffractogram of solution-treated 60NiTi alloy along [111]B2 zone axis (c). The area encircled by red lines contains the interface structure between B2 NiTi matrix and Ni4Ti3 phase. FFT diffractogram and corresponding IFFT lattice image of red boxed area along [111]B2 zone axis (d).

Fig. 3. Schematic diagramof typical loading and unloading curve (a). Deformation pattern during and after nanoindentation creep test with CSM method (b).

Fig. 4. Creep test loading curve as a function of t with loading time of 2 s (a). Representative creep curve and fitting curve for solution treated 60NiTi alloy at 2 mN (b), 5 mN (c) and 8 mN (d).

Fig. 5. h0 and hcreep of solution treated 60NiTi alloy with loading time of 2 s (a). $\dot{\varepsilon}$ curves (b) and σ curves (c) as a function of t at various Pmax. Logarithmic plot of σ vs $\dot{\varepsilon}$ (d).

Fig. 6. Creep test loading curve as a function of t with loading time of 5 s (a). Representative creep curve and fitting curve for solution treated 60NiTi alloy at 2 mN (b), 5 mN (c) and 8 mN (d).

Fig. 7. h0 and hcreep of solution treated 60NiTi alloy with loading time of 5 s (a). $\dot{\varepsilon}$ curves (b) and σ curves (b) as a function of t at various Pmax. Logarithmic plot of σ vs $\dot{\varepsilon}$ (d).

Fig. 8. Creep test loading curve as a function of t with loading rate of 0.1 mN/s (a). Representative creep curve and fitting curve for solution treated 60NiTi alloy at 2 mN (b), 5 mN (c) and 8 mN (d).

Fig. 9. h0 and hcreep of solution treated 60NiTi alloy with loading rate of 0.1 mN/s (a). $\dot{\varepsilon}$ curves (b) and σ curves (b) as a function of t at various Pmax. Logarithmic plot of σ vs $\dot{\varepsilon}$ (d).

Fig. 10. hcreep of solution treated 60NiTi alloy under various kinds of experiment conditions (a). hcreep with constant Pmax (b). hcreep with constant loading time or rate (c).

Fig. 11. h0 of solution treated 60NiTi alloy under various kinds of experiment conditions (a). h0 with constant Pmax (b). h0 with constant loading time or rate (c).

Fig. 12. $\dot{\varepsilon}$ at the holding stage of first 5 s. Loading time of 2 s (a). Loading time of 5 s (b). Loading rate of 0.1 mN/s (c).

Fig. 13. $\dot{\varepsilon}$ of 1# point with constant Pmax (a) and constant loading time or rate (b). $\dot{\varepsilon}$ of 2# point with constant Pmax (c) and constant loading time or rate (d).

Fig. 14. σ of 1# point with constant Pmax (a) and constant loading time or rate (b). σ of 2# point with constant Pmax (c) and constant loading time or rate (d).

Fig. 15. Schematic illustrating the various deformed regions beneath Berkovich indenter (b). Geometrically necessary dislocations generated in plastic region (b).

Fig. 16. Logarithmic plot of σ vs $\dot{\varepsilon}$ at the latter stage of creep curve for solution treated 60NiTi alloy at 5 mN and 8 mN with loading rate of 0.1 mN/s.