Transformation behaviors of Ti48.5Ni48Fe2Nb1.5 dependence of annealing and thermomechanical cycling

The effect of annealing treatments and thermomechanical cycling on the transformation behaviors and shape memory effect of Ti48.5Ni48Fe2Nb1.5 shape memory alloys were investigated using electrical resistivity measurement and tensile testing. It is found that the transformation behaviors are influenced considerably by the annealing treatments. Both Ms and As increase with increasing annealing temperature and cooling rate. Martensite stabilization occurs during thermomechanical cycles, thus resulting in lower...     

NiTiCu Shape Memory Alloy Characterization Through Microhardness Tests

NiTiCu alloys are one of the most investigated shape memory alloys (SMAs) because of their better performance as SMA actuators in a variety of industrial and engineering applications. However, NiTiCu alloys are strongly influenced by thermomechanical cycling (TMC), which causes degradation depending on the stress and strain level applied. Since heat treatment (HT) and TMC are essential for NiTiCu alloys, understanding how hardness evolves at different levels of TMC and different HT temperatures is a useful tool for characterizing the material. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between hardness and different HT temperatures and different TMCs. All the microhardness tests were done below martensite finish temperature (Mf) because the apparent material hardness measured below Mf fairly reflects the relative strengthening of SMAs without involving martensitic transformation artifacts. Resistivity and break tensile tests were carried out as a first step in order to understand the effect of different HT temperatures. Microstructure was also examined to provide a basis for a mechanistic understanding of the effect of different HT temperatures. Next, the degradation of mechanical properties (functional fatigue) at different levels of TMC was evaluated to assess their relationship to the evolution of hardness. Finally, an attempt was made to establish a link between the increase in hardness and different HT temperatures with different levels of TMC.     

Effect of Current Pulses on Fatigue of Thin NiTi Wires for Shape Memory Actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are used in many technological applications, thanks to their unique properties: superelasticity and shape memory (SM) effect. Many efforts have been made to improve performance of SMA wires to utilize them as thermal actuators also for many thousands of cycles. Near-equiatomic nickel-titanium compound is the most used materials for SM actuators because of its high recoverable values of strain and good cycling stability, if compared to the other known SMA. In this study, the functional properties of NiTi thin wires (80 μm) thermally cycled under a constant load (200 MPa) were investigated. In particular, the effect of two heating conditions, carried out by a step and a ramp current pulses, on functional fatigue of SMA has been studied. By means of an experimental apparatus, thermomechanical cycling, thermal loop under constant load and actuation time (AT) tests were carried out to investigate the alteration and the trend of recovered strain, irreversible strain, characteristic temperatures, and ATs of the thin SM wires.     

Actuator Response of Improved Two-Way Memory TiNi Wires Evaluated by Weight Fraction Diagrams

This paper experimentally studies the improvement in the actuator response of TiNi shape memory wires brought about by thermal treatments. Heat-treated TiNi wires were thermally cycled at zero stress before being trained by constant stress to develop the two-way shape memory effect. Subsequently, the work output of these two-way memory TiNi shape memory alloys are measured during repeated thermomechanical cycling under various levels of constant stress. Changes in the phase transformation behavior in two-way memory and thermomechanically cycled TiNi shape memory alloy wires are quantified by x-ray diffraction as a function of temperature. The weight fraction diagrams of TiNi wires thermally cycled at zero stress before they were trained suggests that during constant stress training they develop a lower quantity of R-phase than samples that have not been thermally cycled at zero stress before being trained. This gives thermally cycled TiNi samples higher levels of transformation strain and work output during thermomechanical cycling than samples that have not been thermally cycled before training. These results suggest that for the best material performance—that is, significant transformation strain and, consequently, substantial work output—the TiNi wire should be thermally cycled at zero stress before training.     

Creation of submicrocrystalline structure and improvement of functional properties of shape memory alloys of the Ti-Ni-Fe system with the help of ECAP

The structure and mechanical and functional properties of shape memory alloys of the Ti-Ni-Fe system are studied by methods of x-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and mechanical and thermomechanical testing. The alloys are subjected to high-temperature thermomechanical treatment (HTMT) and equichannel angular pressing (ECAP). The tested objects are thermomechanical clutches from a Ti-Ni-Fe alloy subjected to ECAP and to control treatment (for comparison). The bearing capacity and the low-temperature stability of thermomechanical joints of such clutches were studied. __________ Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 2, pp. 8–13, February, 2007.     

Mechanical and functional behavior of a Ni-rich Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 high temperature shape memory alloy

The mechanical and functional behaviors of a Ni-rich Ni_50.3Ti_29.7Hf₂₀ high temperature shape memory alloy were investigated through combined ex situ macroscopic experiments and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Isothermal tension and compression tests were conducted between room temperature and 260 °C, while isobaric thermomechanical cycling experiments were conducted at selected stresses up to 700 MPa. Isothermal testing of the martensite phase revealed no plastic strain up to the test limit of 1 GPa and near-perfect superelastic behavior up to 3% applied strain at temperatures above the austenite finish. Excellent dimensional stability with greater than 2.5% actuation strain without accumulation of noticeable residual strains (at stresses less than or equal to −400 MPa) were observed during isobaric thermal cycling experiments. The absence of residual strain accumulation during thermomechanical cycling was confirmed by the lattice strains, determined from X-ray spectra. Even in the untrained condition, the material exhibited little or no history or path dependence in behavior, consistent with measurements of the bulk texture after thermomechanical cycling using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Post deformation cycling revealed the limited conditions under which a slight two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was obtained, with a maximum of 0.34% two-way shape memory strain after thermomechanical cycling under −700 MPa.     

Stability in Phase Transformation After Multiple Steps of Marforming in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy

Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloys are the most attractive among shape memory alloys (SMA) due to their good functionality properties coupled with high strength and ductility. The transformation temperatures in Ti-rich Ni-Ti SMA can be altered by subjecting them to suitable thermal and/or mechanical treatments to obtain martensitic transformation in one or more steps above 0 °C. The goal of the present work is to investigate the stability of phase transformation characteristics, such as, type of sequence (one, two, and multiple steps) and transformation temperatures in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti SMA (Ni-51 at.%Ti), after being subjected to an initial heat treatment at 500 °C for 30 min in air followed by multiple steps of marforming (cold rolling, 30% thickness reduction) intercalated with heat treatments at 500 °C for 30 min in air and a final heat treatment at four different temperatures (400, 450, 500, and 600 °C) for 30 min in air atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrical resistivity (ER) were used to identify the phase transformation sequences and the stability of transformation temperatures during initial 10 thermal cycles for each sample with distinct thermo-mechanical treatment.     

EXPERIENCE WITH THERMOMECHANICAL FATIGUE UNDER SERVICE-TYPE LOADING

The thermomechanical fatigue behaviour of different high temperature alloys has been investigated and is under investigation respectively. The creep-fatigue behaviour of heat resistant steels was investigated by long-term service-type strain cycling tests simulating thermomechanical fatigue (TMF-) loading conditions at the heated surface of e.g. turbine rotors. Single-stage as well as three-stage cycles leads to similar results at the application of the damage accumulation rule. Life prediction which simulates typical combinations of cold starts, warm starts and hot starts has been established successfully for isothermal service-type loading and will be exceeded for thermomechanical loading. Long-term thermomechanical fatigue testing of Thermal Barrier Coating systems show typical delamination damage. An advanced TMF cruciform testing system enables complex multiaxial loading.     

Development of Stress-Induced Martensitic Transformation in TiNi Shape Memory Alloy

TiNi shape memory alloy (SMA) was subjected to tension at strain-controlled test on quasistatic testing machine. The nucleation, development, and saturation of the stress-induced martensitic transformation were investigated, taking into account the obtained dependency of mechanical parameters and the specimen temperature changes measured by an infrared camera (IR). Three kinds of data obtained by the IR system were analyzed: the temperature distribution on the SMA sample surface, the temperature changes derived as average from the chosen sample area, and the temperature profiles obtained along the sample length. The temperature distribution shows nucleation of the transformation process and a creation of the transformation bands. The average temperature reflects the effects of thermomechanical coupling, accompanying exothermic martensitic forward and endothermic reverse transformation. The temperature profiles revealed the temperature difference between the band and the rest of the sample. The experimental results were supported with finite element method numerical analysis (FEM). The FEM software components for structural and heat transfer problems, coupled in partitioned approach, were used for thermomechanical analysis.     

Phase transformation behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi shape memory alloys under large strain

Although it is known that the plastic deformation after transformation could stabilize martensite and make the transformation irreversible, there lacks a systematic research on the effect of plasticity on phase transformation behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs). Therefore, the present study focuses on this aspect of NiTi SMAs. A series of tensile cycling experiments are performed on a NiTi SMA at room temperature. Attention has been paid to the characteristics of the phase transformation stresses, the residual and recoverable strain and the dissipated and recoverable energy density as functions of deformation cycles and maximum strain amplitude. With the increasing of plastic strain amplitude at the first loading cycle, the stress–strain curves reach a stable state sooner during cycling. It is concluded that a small amount of plastic strain at the first loading cycle is helpful to get good stable mechanical properties.     

Effects of Loading and Constraining Conditions on the Thermomechanical Fatigue Life of NiTi Shape Memory Wires

The availability of engineering strength data on shape memory alloys (SMAs) under cyclic thermal activation (thermomechanical fatigue) is central to the rational design of smart actuators based on these materials. Test results on SMAs under thermomechanical fatigue are scarce in the technical literature, and even the few data that are available are mainly limited to constant-stress loading. Since the SMA elements used within actuators are normally biased by elastic springs or by antagonist SMA elements, their stress states are far from being constant in operation. The mismatch between actual working conditions and laboratory settings leads to suboptimal designs and undermines the prediction of the actuator lifetime. This paper aims at bridging the gap between experiment and reality by completing an experimental campaign involving four fatigue test conditions, which cover most of the typical situations occurring in practice: constant stress, constant-strain, constant stress with limited maximum strain, and linear stress-strain variation with limited maximum strain. The results from the first three test settings, recovered from the previously published works, are critically reviewed and compared with the outcome of the newly performed tests under the fourth arrangement (linear stress-strain variation). General design recommendations emerging from the experimental data are put forward for engineering use.     

Investigation of Bending Trainings, Transformation Temperatures, and Stability of Two-Way Shape Memory Effect in NiTi-Based Ribbons

This paper discusses the application of rapid solidification by the melt-spinning method for the preparation of thin NiTi-based ribbons. Generally, the application of rapid solidification via melt-spinning can change the microstructure, improving the ductility and shape memory characteristics and lead to small-dimensioned samples. Several thousand thermal cycles were performed on the trained ribbons using bending deformation procedure, continuously observing the changes in the shape memory and transformation behaviors. These changes are due to the appearance of an intermediate phase which was stabilized probably by the accumulation of defects introduced by thermomechanical training. The influence of training and thermal cycling on characteristics of ribbons was studied by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results displayed that bending training methods were useful in developing a two-way shape memory effect (TWSME). All samples show a shape memory effect immediately after processing without further heat treatment. The addition of copper in NiTi alloys was effective to narrow the transformation hysteresis. The W addition has improved the stability of the TWSME and mechanical properties. The TWSME of ribbons and its stability are well suited for important applications such as microsensors and microactuators.     

Experimental Investigation on the Mechanical Instability of Superelastic NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

In this paper, primary attention is paid to the mechanical instability of superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) during localized forward transformation at different temperatures. By inhibiting the localized phase transformation, we can obtain the up-down-up mechanical response of NiTi SMA, which is closely related to the intrinsic material softening during localized martensitic transformation. Furthermore, the material parameters of the up-down-up stress-strain curve are extracted, in such a way that this database can be utilized for simulation and validation of the theoretical analysis. It is found that during forward transformation, the upper yield stress, lower yield stress, Maxwell stress, and nucleation stress of NiTi SMA exhibit linear dependence on temperature. The relation between nucleation stress and temperature can be explained by the famous Clausius-Clapeyron equation, while the relation between upper/lower yield stress and temperature lacks theoretical study, which needs further investigation.     

形状记忆合金的剪切本构模型

利用形状记忆因子的概念,建立了用于描述纯剪切状态下形状记忆合金(SMA)相变行为的形状记忆演化方程.在假设SMA为各向同性材料和利用三维细观力学本构方程的前提下,推导了纯剪切状态下SMA的力学本构方程.所建立的形状记忆演化方程和力学本构方程中的材料常数均可以通过宏观实验来测定,便于工程实际中的应用.数值计算结果表明,所建立的形状记忆演化方程能正确地描述纯剪切状态下SMA发生在奥氏体、孪晶马氏体和非孪晶马氏体间的相变行为,力学本构方程可再现形状记忆效应和超弹性的热力学过程.     

Mechanical behavior and microstructural analysis of NiTi-40Au shape memory alloys exhibiting work output above 400 °C

Substituting Ni with Au in NiTi leads to dramatic increases in transformation temperatures, meeting one of the requirements for a viable high temperature actuator material. Consequently, four alloys containing between 49 and 51 at.% Ti, a fixed 40 at.% Au, and balance Ni, were prepared and investigated in detail using load-biased thermal cycling (LBTC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS). LBTC experiments demonstrated work output well above 400 °C, with full recovery up to 100 MPa. The alloys exhibit minimal variation in shape memory properties despite the relatively large composition range from Ti-lean to Ti-rich, in stark contrast to most other NiTi-based systems, which demonstrate extreme compositional sensitivity. Electron beam analysis revealed the presence of two types of secondary phases present in all compositions, which are subsequently characterized. Differences in secondary phase content as a function of alloy composition is shown to have a moderating effect on the transforming matrix composition - an important asset for this alloy system - potentially easing processing requirements and opening up shape memory alloys to new fabrication techniques. Unrecovered strain during cycling at higher loads is analyzed from a theoretical perspective to gain insight into the mechanisms of defect formation responsible for functional fatigue.     

Effects of thermomechanical cycling on the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures of a Ni50.2Ti49.8 alloy

The effects of thermomechanical cycling on the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures of a Ni50.2Ti49.8 alloy under a constant applied stress of 300 MPa were investigated.It is believed that thermomechanical cycling induces defects such as dislocations,which evidently affect the shape memory behavior and transformation temperatures.The recovery strain decreases with increasing number of thermomechanical cycles,whereas the irreversible plastic strain increases,especially in the initial few cycles.The stored elastic strain energy has an important influence on transformation temperatures,the Aso decreases and the Mso increases with increasing number of thermornechanical cycles.The recovery strain,irreversible plastic strain,Aso,and Mso reach a saturation value after several cycles.     

Functional Characterization of a Novel Shape Memory Alloy

A novel shape memory alloy (SMA) has been developed as an alternative to currently available alloys. This alloy, commercially known by its proprietary brand SMARQ, shows a higher working range of temperatures with respect to the SMA materials used until now in actuators, limited to environment temperatures below 90 °C. SMARQ is a high temperature SMA (HTSMA) based on a fully European material technology and production processes, which allows the manufacture of high quality products, with tuneable transformation temperatures up to 200 °C. Both, material and production processes have been evaluated for its use in space applications. A full characterization test campaign has been completed in order to obtain the material properties and check its suitability to be used as active material in space actuators. In order to perform the functional characterization of the material, it has been considered as the key element of a basic SMA actuator, consisting in the SMA wire and the mechanical and electrical interfaces. The functional tests presented in this work have been focused on the actuator behavior when heated by means of an electrical current. Alloy composition has been adjusted in order to match a transition temperature (As) of +145 °C, which satisfies the application requirements of operating temperatures in the range of ?70 and +125 °C. Details of the tests and results of the characterization test campaign, focused in the material unique properties for their use in actuators, will be presented in this work. Some application examples in the field of space mechanisms and actuators, currently under development, will be summarized as part of this work, demonstrating the technology suitability as active material for space actuators.     

CuZnAl形状记忆合金热机械循环滞回曲线与振动衰减特性研究

运用电子万能拉伸试验机、动态数据采集分析仪,测试了CuZnAl形状记忆合金的力-变形滞回曲线和安装有CuZnAl形状记忆合金耗能器框架结构的减振性能.借助透射电镜、X射线衍射仪,分析了CuZnAl形状记忆合金热机械循环过程中显微组织的变化.比较了不同热处理方式、不同相变点的CuZnAl形状记忆合金热机械循环后的滞回曲线面积及减振性能.试验结果表明:CuZnAl形状记忆合金用于框架结构的被动振动控制具有较好的减振性能,同时明显降低框架结构的振动频率.马氏体CuZnAl形状记忆合金耗能器具有较大的耗能能力,热机械循环数十次以后滞回面积亦大幅度减小,但相变点高的CuZnAl形状记忆合金的滞回面积减小幅度较小.     

Analysis and Evaluation of the Dynamic Performance of SMA Actuators for Prosthetic Hand Design

It is widely acknowledged within the biomedical engineering community that shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit great potential for application in the actuation of upper limb prosthesis designs. These lightweight actuators are particularly suitable for prosthetic hand solutions. A four-fingered, 12 degree-of-freedom prosthetic hand has been developed featuring SMA bundle actuators embedded within the palmar structure. Joule heating of the SMA bundle actuators generates sufficient torque at the fingers to allow a wide range of everyday tasks to be carried out. Transient characterization of SMA bundles has shown that performance/response during heating and cooling differs substantially. Natural convection is insufficient to provide for adequate cooling during elongation of the actuators. An experimental test-bed has been developed to facilitate analysis of the heat transfer characteristics of the appropriately sized SMA bundle actuators for use within the prosthetic hand design. Various modes of heat sinking are evaluated so that the most effective wire-cooling solution can be ascertained. SMA bundles of varying size will be used so that a generalized model of the SMA displacement performance under natural and forced cooling conditions can be obtained. The optimum cooling solution will be implemented onto the mechanical hand framework in future work. These results, coupled with phenomenological models of SMA behavior, will be used in the development of an effective control strategy for this application in future work.     

Challenges in using waterjet machining of NiTi shape memory alloys: An analysis of controlled-depth milling

The nickel-titanium shape memory alloys (NiTi SMAs) have a very high potential for a wide variety of applications thanks to their unique mechanical properties: shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity. However, they have been proved to be more challenging to cut than other advanced engineering materials because of their high ductility, crystal-oriented and stress-oriented mechanical properties. In stark contrast to the extensive work on the metallurgical/microstructural properties of the SMA, there is limited research regarding non-conventional machining of this group of special alloys.Waterjet technology is well-known for cutting advanced difficult-to-cut materials owing to its benefits of reduced mechanical and thermal damages to workpiece surfaces. This paper reports for the first time the use of waterjet technology to mill the functional shape memory alloys and thus to open new avenues for the utilisation of these alloys for advanced engineering applications (e.g. aerospace, medical fields). However, when it comes to NiTi SMAs (characterised by low temperature phase martensite and parent phase austenite), the insignificant waterjet temperatures become critical to the material behaviour as their crystal structures are sensitive to the variations in both temperature and mechanical compression. This makes the processing (particularly waterjet controlled-depth milling) a real challenging task.By taking into consideration both of the waterjet temperatures at different material removal conditions (i.e. with and without abrasives in the focussing tube) and the transformation temperatures of NiTi, three different working zones (100% martensite; mix of austenite and martensite; 100% austenite) under waterjet process have been proposed. In addition, a combined phase and stress-strain diagram for shape memory effect in martensitic phase and pseudoelasticity in austenite phase of NiTi has been suggested. In this paper, Ni_49.8Ti_50.2 shape memory alloy was considered in which its transition temperature range is overlapped with the waterjet operating temperature; two approaches of waterjet processes (plain and abrasive waterjet milling) were proposed so as to investigate the mechanical and metallurgical effect provoked by the relationship between operating temperatures and transformation temperatures. It was found that abrasive waterjetting is more viable than plain waterjetting for controlled-depth milling of NiTi shape memory alloys.