INTRODUCTION

A shape-memory alloy is an alloy that can be deformed when cold but returns to its pre-
deformed or original shape when heated. It may also be called memory metal, memory alloy, smart
metal, smart alloy, or muscle wire. Parts made of shape-memory alloys can be lightweight, solid-state
alternatives to conventional actuators such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and motor-based systems. They
can also be used to make hermetic joints in metal tubing.

Nickel titanium, also known as Nitinol (part of shape memory alloy), is a metal alloy of nickel
and titanium, where the two elements are present in roughly equal atomic percentages e.g. Nitinol
55, Nitinol 60. Nitinol alloys exhibit two closely related and unique properties: shape memory effect
(SME) and superelasticity. Shape memory is the ability of nitinol to undergo deformation at one
temperature, then recover its original, undeformed shape upon heating above its "transformation
temperature". Superelasticity occurs at a narrow temperature range just above its transformation
temperature; in this case, no heating is necessary to cause the undeformed shape to recover, and the
material exhibits enormous elasticity, some 10–30 times that of ordinary metal.

Shape Memory Effect

The shape memory effect (SME) occurs because a temperature-induced phase transformation
reverses deformation, as shown in the previous hysteresis curve. Typically, the martensitic phase is
monoclinic or orthorhombic. Since these crystal structures do not have enough slip systems for easy
dislocation motion, they deform by twinning—or rather, detwinning.

Martensite is thermodynamically favoured at lower temperatures, while austenite (B2 cubic) is

thermodynamically favoured at higher temperatures. Since these structures have different lattice
sizes and symmetry, cooling austenite into martensite introduces internal strain energy in the
martensitic phase. To reduce this energy, the martensitic phase forms many twins—this is called "self-
accommodating twinning" and is the twinning version of geometrically necessary dislocations. Since
the shape memory alloy will be manufactured from a higher temperature and is usually engineered
so that the martensitic phase is dominant at operating temperature to take advantage of the shape
memory effect, SMAs "start" highly twinned.

When the martensite is loaded, these self-accommodating twins provide an easy path for
deformation. Applied stresses will detwin the martensite, but all of the atoms stay in the same position
relative to the nearby atoms—no atomic bonds are broken or reformed (as they would be by
dislocation motion). Thus, when the temperature is raised and austenite becomes thermodynamically
favoured, all of the atoms rearrange to the B2 structure which happens to be the same macroscopic
shape as the B19' pre-deformation shape. This phase transformation happens extremely quickly and
gives SMAs their distinctive "snap".

Crystal Structures of SMA

The special property that allows shape-memory alloys to revert to their original shape after heating is
that their crystal transformation is fully reversible. In most crystal transformations, the atoms in the
structure will travel through the metal by diffusion, changing the composition locally, even though the
metal as a whole is made of the same atoms. A reversible transformation does not involve this
diffusion of atoms, instead all the atoms shift at the same time to form a new structure, much in the
way a parallelogram can be made out of a square by pushing on two opposing sides. At different
temperatures, different structures are preferred and when the structure is cooled through the
transition temperature, the martensitic structure forms from the austenitic phase.
Properties of SMA

The copper-based and NiTi-based shape-memory alloys are considered to be engineering materials.
These compositions can be manufactured to almost any shape and size. The yield strength of shape-
memory alloys is lower than that of conventional steel, but some compositions have a higher yield
strength than plastic or aluminium. The yield stress for Ni Ti can reach 500 MPa. The high cost of the
metal itself and the processing requirements make it difficult and expensive to implement SMAs into
a design. As a result, these materials are used in applications where the super elastic properties or the
shape-memory effect can be exploited. The most common application is in actuation.

Overview

The two most prevalent shape-memory alloys are copper-aluminium-nickel and nickel-titanium (NiTi),
but SMAs can also be created by alloying zinc, copper, gold and iron. Although iron-based and copper-
based SMAs, such as Fe-Mn-Si, Cu-Zn-Al and Cu-Al-Ni, are commercially available and cheaper than
NiTi, NiTi-based SMAs are preferable for most applications due to their stability, practicability and
superior thermo-mechanic performance. SMAs can exist in two different phases, with three different
crystal structures (i.e. twinned martensite, detwinned martensite and austenite) and six possible
transformations.

NiTi alloys change from austenite to martensite upon cooling; Mf is the temperature at which the
transition to martensite completes upon cooling. Accordingly, during heating As and Af are the
temperatures at which the transformation from martensite to austenite starts and finishes. Repeated
use of the shape-memory effect may lead to a shift of the characteristic transformation temperatures
(this effect is known as functional fatigue, as it is closely related with a change of microstructural and
functional properties of the material). The maximum temperature at which SMAs can no longer be
stress induced is called Md, where the SMAs are permanently deformed.

The transition from the martensite phase to the austenite phase is only dependent on temperature
and stress, not time, as most phase changes are, as there is no diffusion involved. Similarly, the
austenite structure receives its name from steel alloys of a similar structure. It is the reversible
diffusionless transition between these two phases that results in special properties. While martensite
can be formed from austenite by rapidly cooling carbon-steel, this process is not reversible, so steel
does not have shape-memory properties.

In this figure, ξ(T) represents the martensite fraction. The difference between the heating transition
and the cooling transition gives rise to hysteresis where some of the mechanical energy is lost in the
process. The shape of the curve depends on the material properties of the shape-memory alloy, such
as the alloy's composition and work hardening.
ADVANTAGES OF NITINOL ALLOY

1. Nitinol alloy is considered to be engineering materials.

2. It has very high level of recoverable plastic strain that can be induced.
3. NiTi alloy explored as vibration dampers for launch vehicles and commercial jet engines.
4. Biocompatibility.
5. Diverse Fields of Application.
6. Good Mechanical Properties (strong and corrosion resistant).