Papers by Keyword: NiTi

Abstract: This work analyzes a shape memory alloy Stirling heat engine through an integrated thermal, mechanical, and materials approach. It builds on our previously published framework by generalizing behavior of shape memory alloys (SMA) beyond the nanoscale and extends it to elastocaloric applications, where mechanical work can be used to induce the stress-induced phase transformation. Parallels between stress-strain and enthalpy-temperature behavior underline this extension. Heat engine performance is evaluated in terms of torque and speed, and consideration is given to fatigue service life. Heat transfer and transformation energetics are examined with implications for heat engine performance. The resulting work supports shape memory alloy based heat engines and refrigerators for thermal management in space applications.

Abstract: This study proposes to design and fabricate the peripheral stent using NiTi shape memory alloy wires by braiding technique. The 0.2 mm diameter NiTi wire was attached to the automatic braiding machine and fabricated the braided stent under the different height of circular rod holder. Heat-treatment was carried out at 450°C, 500°C, 550°C and 600°C for 10 and 20 minutes, respectively. Then transformation temperature, the shape of cell area, and mechanical properties were evaluated. The results show that complete superelasticity can be confirmed under body temperature in stent prototypes with heat-treatment temperature over 500°C irrespective of heat-treatment time. The prototype with the height of circular mold of 70 mm shown a good braiding pattern with high kink resistance. The radial force shown no significant difference at any section along the length profile. It is noted that stent with the height of circular mold at 70 mm, carrier speed of 30 rad/sec and take-up speed of 4.86 mm/s which shown radial resistive force (ROF) of 2.44 ± 0.05 N/mm, and chronic outward force (COF) of 0.533 ± 0.03 N/mm which is sufficient for vessel expansion.

Abstract: The welding of shape-memory alloys is a challenge due to the fact that there are numerous compositions and because the properties are greatly influenced by the temperature. Of the multitude of shape-memory alloy systems, the most popular and widely used is the Ni-Ti system. Pulsed laser welding is a solution used for joining NiTi shape-memory alloys, having the advantage of localized heating and the possibility to adjust the welding parameters to obtain optimal properties. NiTi wires were welded using a 500W pulsed laser equipment by varying the current intensity. Thus, laser melted spots were made on a NiTi wire, changing only the value of current intensity in 20A increments in the range of 100-200A. The results analyzed by scanning electron microscopy showed, as expected, that as the current intensity increased, the spot size and the heat affected zone (HAZ) increased for each spot. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the martensitic transformation is still present in all samples, but with a decrease in peaks related to the phase transformation, as well as an increase of the temperature (8-12 °C), compared to the base material.

Abstract: Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are promising materials for the creation of heating or cooling systems due to their elastocaloric character. The paper proposes a concept of elastocaloric “porous” SMA beam working in bending. The beam was made with superelastic nickel-titanium SMA wires of different diameters placed in a flexible tube. While water was flowing through the tube, bending was manually applied using 3D printed wavy profiles with portions of arcs with constant curvatures. Preliminary results showed an oscillation of the fluid temperature at the outlet of the flexible tube (containing the SMA wires) at the same frequency as the mechanical loading, validating therefore the concept of elastocaloric porous SMA beam operating in bending.

Abstract: Ti-based intermetallic compounds are characterized by low machinability, therefore, to obtain accurate dimensions and shape of the surface grinding and Wire EDM are used. The unique properties of NiTi intermetallic alloys are largely influenced by structural phase transformations and variations in microhardness caused by processing accompanied by thermal phenomena. Having an understanding of the physics of the process, it is possible to counteract negative effects, which helps to preserve thermomechanical properties of the final NiTi products. Accumulation of knowledge about the quality of processing with various abrasive tools is part of the larger research presented in this article. Samples of titanium nickelide with a temperature A_f=+25 ⁰С were abraded with ordinary and high porosity SiC wheels. The article studied phase transformations using X-ray diffraction analysis and microhardness. The experimental data were processed using mathematical statistics. X-ray diffraction patterns and microhardness analysis showed that a significant effect on the structural transformation and corresponding increase in microhardness is exerted by grinding with green SiC wheels with normal porosity caused by an increased thermal effect on the surface. Simultaneously, the impact of Wire EDM process on microhardness in preparing workpieces for grinding was evaluated. It was established that grinding of Ti-based intermetallic compounds with memory effect should be performed by SiC wheels with an open structure of high porosity.

Abstract: In the present study, the effect of heat treatment parameters on the functional response, corrosion behavior and microstructural evolution of NiTi shape memory alloys were investigated. Various heat treatment regimes were utilized to study the impact of temperature and duration on the actuation behavior of wire samples under bending. Results clarified that austenite transformation temperatures A_s and A_f increased at higher treatment temperatures. Cyclic response in the range of 0 to 15 degrees indicated that the actuation force exhibits an inverse relation with the treatment temperature. Higher treatment durations below 500°C elevated both the hardness and the sustained load. Bending force levels above 1500gf were achieved after a 90 min treatment at 400°C, whereas that over 500°C brought about a noticeable drop in strength. Investigations on the corrosion behavior of NiTi alloy was utilized in the simulated body fluid revealing that the sample heat treated at 400°C for 90 min showed the highest corrosion resistance.

Abstract: The effects of strain amplitude variation on the functional properties of a superelastic NiTi wire were investigated in terms of critical stress to induce martensite, accumulated residual strain, dissipated energy, lower plateau stress, and stress at maximum strain. Wire specimens were subjected to training by pseudoelastic cycling, being mechanically strained up to strain amplitudes of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14%. A total of 20 cycles were performed at each condition at room temperature and strain rate of 10^-3s^-1. In order to assess if the wires were able to maintain stable their functional properties after training, samples subjected to cycling at 8 and 14% strain amplitudes were aged at room temperature and retested. The results showed that the functional properties tend to stabilize faster when the alloy is subjected to lower strain amplitudes. It was observed that part of the functional properties was recovered if aged at room temperature.

Abstract: NiTi is characterized as a shape memory alloy that has found interesting applications from aerospace to biomedical engineering. The use of NiTi in biomedical applications is due to its excellent biocompatibility, shape memory and pseudoelastic properties. These properties make NiTi an excellent candidate for many functional designs in biomedical fields. However, difficulties in manufacturing and processing of this alloy are significant hindrance to widespread applications. Advances in additive manufacturing (AM) such as selective laser and electron beam techniques have provided opportunities in manufacturing complex shaped NiTi parts. In this research paper, we demonstrate manufacturing of NiTi parts using a selective electron beam melting (SEBM) technique. Complete evaluation of physical, chemical and mechanical properties was carried out to determine the suitability of SEBM process. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and metallographic analyses were employed for the thermal and structural characterizations. The obtained results suggest that it is imperative to, and challenging to control the additive manufacturing process in order to obtain the desired microstructures and avoid unwanted texture. An exhaustive heat treatment of the samples after SEBM process might also be necessary.

Abstract: The size of equipments now a day reduced to microns and nanos. So, the wear characteristics play a dominating role in the proper working of equipments utilized in engineering and medical fields. NiTi alloys have different applications in medical and engineering field due to their unique characteristics of super-elasticity, corrosion resistance, shape memory and bio-compatibility. In the present research, Ni₅₀Ti₅₀ alloy have been fabricated by powder metallurgy method with polypropylene as a binder. During sintering process at 1150°C, organic binder evaporates and makes the alloy porous. The surface of NiTi alloy is covered by TiO₂ layer, which increases its wear resistance, but with the increase of frictional heat (produced due to pin on disc apparatus experimentation) this layer, breaks and wear rate increases. The mean value of wear loss was investigated at 95% of confidence level and further experiments were performed to validate the predicted value.

Abstract: Martensitic phase transformation in NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) can spread either homogenously or in localized martensitic transformation bands. Transformation band propagation is usually observed in particular loading modes (tension) and geometries of specimen (wires, thin ribbons). In this work, a well established NiTi SMA constitutive model is enhanced so that strain softening of the material response during stress induced phase transition is covered. A nonlocal integral averaging technique is adopted and the model is implemented into a finite element (FE) software. A simple validating simulation of a NiTi superelastic wire loaded in tension is performed.