Coherent Precipitates as a Condition for Ultra-Low Fatigue in Cu-Rich Ti53.7Ni24.7Cu21.6 Shape Memory Alloys

Sputtered Ti–rich TiNiCu alloys are known to show excellent cyclic stability. Reversibility is mostly influenced by grain size, crystallographic compatibility and precipitates. Isolating their impact on cyclic stability is difficult. Ti2Cu precipitates for instance are believed to enhance reversibility by showing a dual epitaxy with the B2 and B19 lattice. Their influence on the functional fatigue, if they partly lose the coherency is still unknown. In this study, sputtered Ti53.7Ni24.7Cu21.6 films have been annealed at different temperatures leading to a similar compatibility (λ2 ~ 0.99), grain size and thermal cyclic stability. Films annealed at 550 °C exhibit a superior superelastic fatigue resistance but with reduced transformation temperatures and enthalpies. TEM investigations suggest the formation of Guinier–Preston (GP) zone-like plate precipitates and point towards a coherency relation of the B2 phase and finely distributed Ti2Cu precipitates (~ 60 nm). Films annealed at 700 °C result in the growth of Ti2Cu precipitates (~ 280 nm) with an irregular distribution and a partial loss of their coherency. Thus, GP zones are assumed to cause the reduction of transformation temperatures and enthalpies due to increased internal stresses, whereas the coherency relation of both, Ti2Cu and GP zones, help to increase the superelastic stability, well beyond 107 cycles.

Advances in enhancing structural and functional fatigue resistance of superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy: A Review

Nitinol (NiTi), a shape memory alloy (SMA) of nickel and titanium, exhibits two unique properties: the shape memory effect and superelasticity. It is a material of choice for applications demanding extraordinary flexibility and motion. It is subjected to greater fatigue strains compared to ordinary metals. The structural and functional fatigue properties are important for assessing the fatigue life and reliability of the superelastic NiTi. The advances made in the experimental analysis to improve the structural and functional fatigue resistance of superelastic NiTi are reviewed in this paper. Various aspects of fatigue behaviour of NiTi in biomedical and cooling applications, along with fatigue failure mechanism, are elaborated under structural fatigue. Importance of functional fatigue and its connect with structural fatigue performance of NiTi is discussed citing recent research literature. Furthermore, the effect of processing parameters involved in additive manufacturing on the fatigue performance of NiTi is also discussed.

Studies on Thermomechanical Cycling Characteristics of an Ni-Ti-Cu Shape Memory Alloy

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) find use in myriad medical and engineering applications. In these applications, the functional characteristics of the materials are capitalized on. SMAs are used repeatedly over a long period of time in service. With continued usage degradation occurs in their functional properties, leading to a change in recovery strain, recovery stress, phase transformation temperatures and hysteresis. The change in the functional characteristics of the alloys is known as functional fatigue. Functional fatigue affects the performance of the alloys with the alloys losing their intended functionality. This problem is to be addressed if the alloys are to be used effectively and efficiently throughout their lifespan. It is especially important when using the alloys within the human body, where such degradation can affect the performance of the biomedical devices and, in turn, human health and life. Till date not too many researchers have explored this area in greater detail. In order thereforeto better understand this behavior, in the present study, an Ni50Ti44.7Cu5.3 alloy wire with a d=1.43 mm and a l=100 mm was cycled (10,000) under constant stress (55 MPa) between its transformation temperatures, which were determined by DSC (without load). The effect of cycling on the shape memory properties (strain recovery, hysteresis, and transformation temperatures) after a specified number of cycles at regular intervals are considered. The results show that there is considerable difference in the properties obtained and are interpreted and discussed in detail in the paper.

Influence of limiting the actuation strain on the functional fatigue behavior of Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 high temperature shape memory alloy

The cyclic stability and the fatigue life of NiTiHf alloys are very important for their functionality at high temperatures. The previous studies have shown that the increase in Upper Cycle Temperature (UCT) and the magnitude of applied stress decreased the cyclic stability and fatigue life of NiTiHf high temperature shape memory alloys due to plasticity with dislocation formation at high temperature. On the other hand, this study was dedicated to the effect of limited actuation strain against the applied constant stress to the functional fatigue life and the possible damage mechanism such as dislocation and crack formation. Strain limitation led to observe insignificant amount of accumulated irrecoverable strain but significant amount of crack formation such that the reason of the failure of Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 (at%) alloy was found to be the crack formation instead of dislocation accumulation.