INTRODUCTION TO SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS INTRODUCTION: Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a special type of metals which can

remembe their original shapes. SMAs are useful for such things as actuators which are materials that change shape, stiffness, position, natural frequency, and other mechanical characteristics in response to temperature or electromagnetic fields. The potential uses for SMAs especially as actuators have broadened the spectrum of many scientific fields. 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 aluminum. The first reported steps towards the discovery of the shape-memory effect were taken in the 1930s. According to Otsuka and Wayman, A. lander discovered the pseudoelastic behavior of the Au-Cd alloy in 1932. Greninger and Mooradian (1938) observed the formation and disappearance of a martensitic phase by decreasing and increasing the temperature of a Cu-Zn alloy. The basic phenomenon of the memory effect governed by the thermoelastic behavior of the martensite phase was widely reported a decade later by Kurdjumov and Khandros (1949) and also by Chang and Read (1951).

THEORY

Transformation from the austenite to the martensite phase and shape memory effect is shown in below. The high-temperature austenitic structure undergoes twinning as the temperature is lowered. This twinned structure is called martensite. The martensitic structure is easily deformed by outer stress into a particular shape, and the crystal structure undergoes parallel registry. When heated, the deformed martensite resumes its austenitic form, and the macroscopic shape memory phenomenon is seen.

When martensite NiTi is heated, it begins to change into austenite. The temperature at which this phenomenon starts is called austenite start temperature (As). The temperature at which this phenomenon is complete is called austenite finish temperature (Af). When austenite NiTi is cooled, it begins to change onto martensite. The temperature at which this phenomenon starts is called martensite starting temperature (Ms). The temperature at which martensite is again completely reverted is called martensite finish temperature (Mf).

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS: MaterialsApparatusShape memory alloy samples (Cu based) Water heater Hot plate Thermometer