Ti50.5Ni48.5 , Ti50.5Ni48.5 , Ti51Ni49 and Ti51.5Ni48.5 fibers were fabricated by melt overflow process. The rapid solidification can increase the solubility above the equilibrium solubility. The effects of the rapid solidification of Ti-rich Ti-Ni alloys on the microstructure, transformation temperatures and shape memory characteristics are investigated. The addition of 0.5 at.% Ti in TisoNiso alloy greatly increases the transformation temperature. However, the transformation temperatures decrease again for Ti content exceeding 51 at.%. Results of thermal cycling tests under various constant stress levels reveal that the recoverable elongation associated with B2-B19 martensitic transformation of Ti50.5Ni48.5 fibers is two times larger than that of Ti51.5Ni48.5 alloy fiber. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.