Aging response and its effect on the functional properties of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloys

The β-phase aging response of Cu–Al–Ni single crystal shape memory alloys (SMAs) within the temperature range of 473–573 K has been investigated. Alloys in austenitic (Cu–14.1Al–4Ni wt.%, alloy A) and martensitic (Cu–13.4Al–4Ni wt.%, alloy M) conditions at room temperature were considered. Aged samples show presence of β1′ and γ1′ martensites in both the alloys and formation of γ2 precipitates in the alloy A. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of the aged samples show increase in transformation temperatures as well as transformation hysteresis with aging. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was conducted on both the alloys to ascertain the role of precipitates and martensitic transition on tan δ, which characterizes the damping behaviour of the material. With aging, a steady decrease in tan δ value was observed in both the alloys, which was attributed to the decrease in the number of interfaces per unit area with increasing aging temperature. Moreover, in alloy A, as the volume fraction of precipitate increases with aging, the movement of martensitic interfaces is restricted causing a decreased tan δ.

Influence of Substrate Temperature and Deposition Rate on Structural and Mechanical Properties of Shape Memory NiTi Films

NiTi thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering of an alloy (Ni/Ti:45/55) target at different deposition rates and substrate temperatures were analyzed for their structure and mechanical properties. The crystalline structure, phase-transformation and mechanical response were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Nano-indentation techniques, respectively. The films were deposited on silicon substrates maintained at temperatures in the range 300 to 500 degrees C and post-annealed at 600 degrees C for four hours to ensure film crystallinity. Films deposited at 300 degrees C and annealed for 600 degrees C have exhibited crystalline behavior with Austenite phase as the prominent phase. Deposition onto substrates held at higher deposition temperatures (400 and 500 degrees C) resulted in the co-existence of Austenite phase along with Martensite phase. The increase in deposition rates corresponding to increase in cathode current from 250 to 350 mA has also resulted in the appearance of Martensite phase as well as improvement in crystallinity. XRD analysis revealed that the crystalline film structure is strongly influenced by process parameters such as substrate temperature and deposition rate. DSC results indicate that the film deposited at 300 degrees C had its crystallization temperature at 445 degrees C in the first thermal cycle, which is further confirmed by stress temperature response. In the second thermal cycle the Austenite and Martensite transitions were observed at 75 and 60 degrees C respectively. However, the films deposited at 500 degrees C had the Austenite and Martensite transitions at 73 and 58 degrees C, respectively. Elastic modulus and hardness values increased from 93 to 145 GPa and 7.2 to 12.6 GPa, respectively, with increase in deposition rates. These results are explained on the basis of change in film composition and crystallization. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Combining indentation and diffusion couple techniques for combinatorial discovery of high temperature shape memory alloys

We demonstrate the possibility of accelerated identification of potential compositions for high-temperature shape memory alloys (SMAs) through a combinatorial material synthesis and analysis approach, wherein we employ the combination of diffusion couple and indentation techniques. The former was utilized to generate smooth and compositionally graded inter-diffusion zones (IDZs) in the Ni-Ti-Pd ternary alloy system of varying IDZ thickness, depending on the annealing time at high temperature. The IDZs thus produced were then impressed with an indenter with a spherical tip so as to inscribe a predetermined indentation strain. Subsequent annealing of the indented samples at various elevated temperatures, T-a, ranging between 150 and 550 degrees C allows for partial to full relaxation of the strain imposed due to the shape memory effect. If T-a is above the austenite finish temperature, A(f), the relaxation will be complete. By measuring the depth recovery, which serves as a proxy for the shape recovery characteristic of the SMA, a three-dimensional map in the recovery temperature composition space is constructed. A comparison of the published Af data for different compositions with the Ta data shows good agreement when the depth recovery is between 70% and 80%, indicating that the methodology proposed in this paper can be utilized for the identification of promising compositions. Advantages and further possibilities of this methodology are discussed.

Effects of process parameters upon the shape memory and pseudo-elastic behaviors of laser-welded NiTi thin foil

This article discusses the effects of laser welding parameters such as power, welding speed, and focus position on the weld bead profile, microstructure, pseudo-elasticity (PE), and shape memory effect (SME) of NiTi foil with thickness of 250 um using 100W CW fiber laser. The parameter settings to produce the NiTi welds for analysis in this article were chosen from a fractional factorial design to ensure the welds produced were free of any apparent defect. The welds obtained were mainly of cellular dendrites with grain sizes ranging from 2.5 to 4.8 um at the weld centerline. A small amount of Ni3Ti was found in the welds. The onset of transformation temperatures (As and Ms) of the NiTi welds shifted to the negative side as compared to the as-received NiTi alloy. Ultimate tensile stress of the NiTi welds was comparable to the as received NiTi alloy, but a little reduction in the pseudo-elastic property was noted. Full penetration welds with desirable weld bead profiles and mechanical properties were successfully obtained in this study.

Vibrational behaviour of bcc Cu-based shape memory alloys close to the martensitic transition

Experimental data from ultrasonic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements are analyzed for different families of Cu-based shape-memory alloys. It is shown that the transition occurs at a value, independent of composition and alloy family, of the ratio between the elastic constants associated with the two shears necessary to accomplish the lattice distortion from the bcc to the close-packed structure. The zone boundary frequency of the TA2[110] branch evaluated at the transition point (TM), weakly depends, for each family, on composition. A linear relationship between this frequency and the inverse of the elastic constant C', both quantities evaluated at TM, has been found, in agreement with the prediction of a Landau model proposed for martensitic transformations.

Elastic constants of Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloys

We have measured the adiabatic second order elastic constants of two Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory crystals with different martensitic transition temperatures, using ultrasonic methods. The temperature dependence of the elastic constants has been followed across the ferromagnetic transition and down to the martensitic transition temperature. Within experimental errors no noticeable change in any of the elastic constants has been observed at the Curie point. The temperature dependence of the shear elastic constant C' has been found to be very different for the two alloys. Such a different behavior is in agreement with recent theoretical predictions for systems undergoing multi-stage structural transitions.

Nonlinear angle control of a sectioned airfoil by using shape memory alloys

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Numerical tests of an adaptive sectioned airfoil actuated by shape memory alloys

The main objective of this work is to illustrate an application of angular active control in a sectioned airfoil using shape memory alloys. In the proposed model, one wants to establish the shape of the airfoil profile based on the determination of an angle between its two sections. This angle is obtained by the effect of the shape memory of the alloy by passing an electric current that modifies the temperature of the wire through the Joule effect, changing the shape of the alloy. This material is capable of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy and once permanently deformed, the material can return to its original shape by heating. Due to the presence of nonlinear effects, especially in the mathematical model of the alloy, this work proposes the application of a control system based on fuzzy logic. Through numerical tests, the performance of the fuzzy controller is compared with an on-off controller applied in a sectioned airfoil model.

Validity of shape memory NiTi colon ring BioDynamix ColonRing™ (or NiTi CAR 27™) to prevent anastomotic colorectal strictures. Preliminary results

Purpose. Anastomotic strictures occur in 3-30% of colorectal anastomosis and one of the main causes may be a reaction to the presence of the metal staples used for suturing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a compression anastomosis ring using the memoryshaped device in initial, i.e. nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi) for the prevention of colorectal anastomotic strictures. Patients and methods. A compression anastomosis ring device (NiTi CAR 27™) was used to perform compression anastomosis in 20 patients underwent left hemicolectomy and anterior resection of the rectum for carcinoma. An endoscopic check of the anastomosis was carried out at one month and at six months after surgery. Results. In 2 patients (10%) a dehiscence of the anastomosis occurred on the fifth and the eighth postoperative day. No anastomotic strictures were observed in any of the other 18 patients at six months follow-up after surgery. Conclusion. Our preliminary results suggest that the use of a compression anastomosis ring might well be a valid method of preventing anastomotic strictures in colorectal surgery. Further studies involving a larger number of patients are needed in order to confirm these preliminary results.

Sensing Shape Recovery Using Conductivity Noise in Thin Films of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys

Low frequency fluctuations in the electrical resistivity, or noise, have been used as a sensitive tool to probe into the temperature driven martensite transition in dc magnetron sputtered thin films of nickel titanium shape-memory alloys. Even in the equilibrium or static case, the noise magnitude was more than nine orders of magnitude larger than conventional metallic thin films and had a characteristic dependence on temperature. We observe that the noise while the temperature is being ramped is far larger as compared to the equilibrium noise indicating the sensitivity of electrical resistivity to the nucleation and propagation of domains during the shape recovery. Further, the higher order statistics suggests the existence of long range correlations during the transition. This new characterization is based on the kinetics of disorder in the system and separate from existing techniques and can be integrated to many device applications of shape memory alloys for in-situ shape recovery sensing.

A fluctuation-based characterization of athermal phase transitions:Application to shape memory alloys

We employ a fluctuation-based technique to investigate the athermal component associated with martensite phase transition, which is a prototype of temperature-driven structural transformation. Statistically, when the phase transition is purely athermal, we find that the temporal sequence of avalanches under constant drive is insensitive to the drive rate. We have used fluctuations in electrical resistivity or noise in nickel titanium shape memory alloys in three different forms: a thin film exhibiting well-defined transition temperatures,a highly disordered film, and a bulk wire of rectangular cross-section. Noise is studied in the realm of dynamic transition,viz.while the temperature is being ramped, which probes into the kinetics of the transformation at real time scales,and could probably stand out as a promising tool for material testing in various other systems, including nanoscale devices.

Temperature dependence of indentation recovery ratios in austenitic and martensitic shape memory alloys

Instrumented microindentation (IM) on two Ni-Ti shape memory alloys (SMAs), where one is austenitic and the other is martensitic at room temperature, were conducted from 40 to 150 degrees C. Results show that the depth and work recovery ratios, eta(d) and eta(w) respectively, are complementary to each other. While eta(d) decreases gradually with temperature for austenite, it drops markedly for the martensite in the martensite-to-austenite transformation regime. These results affirm the utility of IM for characterizing SMAs.