Because of being in possession of shape memory effect and superelasticity, Ni-Ti shape memory alloys have earned more intense gaze on the next generation applications. Conventionally, Ni-Ti shape memory alloys are manufactured by hot forming and constraint aging, which need a capital-intensive investment. To have a cost benefit getting rid of plenty of die sets, this study is aimed to form Ni-Ti shape memory alloys at room temperature and to age them at elevated temperature without any die sets. In this study, starting with solution treatments at various temperatures, which served as annealing process, Ni-rich Ni-Ti shape memory alloy wires were bent by V-shaped punches in different curvatures at room temperature. Subsequently, the wires were aged at different temperatures to have shape memory effect. As a result, springback was found after withdrawing the bending punch and further after the aging treatment as well. A higher solution treatment temperature or a smaller bending radius leads to a smaller springback, while a higher aging treatment temperature made a larger springback. This springback may be compensated by bending the wires in further larger curvatures to keep the shape accuracy as designed. To explore the shape memory effect, a reverse bending test was performed. It shows that all bent wires after aging had a shape recovery rate above 96.3% on average.
The Effect of Solution Treatment Temperature and Quenching Media Variation in Heat Treatment Process Cu-Zn-Al Shape Memory Alloys on Shape Memory Effect and Microstructures
