NiTi has two solid-state phases and materials made of NiTi display an
astonishing, counterintuitive property: they can be easily distorted into
a different shape while in their low-temperature phase and upon warming
into the high-temperature phase, the samples will return to their original
shape.
In memory metal, nickel and titanium atoms execute an atomic ballet. Here a memory metal wire
is bent and when the wire is heated in a stream of hot air the atoms return to their original
positions, restoring the wire to its original shape.
In memory metal, nickel and titanium atoms execute an atomic ballet. Here a memory metal wire is
straightened and when the wire is heated in hot water the atoms return to their original positions,
restoring the wire to its original shape.
NiTi Transformation Front
T. W. Shield, P. H. Leo, W. C. C. Grebner [Crone], "Quasi-Static Extension
of Shape Memory Wires under Constant Load," Acta Metallurgica,
45(1), 67-74 (1997)
NiTi Transformation Front
When a NiTi wire is pulled, a phase transformation front moves through
the wire. In this movie the wire has been painted with a liquid crystal
to detect the temperature change that occurs during phase transformation.
The wire is initially cold (black). As the transformation front moves
from the top to the bottom of the image, the color changes to red at the
front with a trailing rainbow of yellow-green-blue behind the front. The
liquid crystal stays blue until the wire slowly cools.
NiTi cell phone antenna
NiTi syringe plunger
Flexon eyeglass frames are made from the high temperature form of memory metal. This can be shown by lowering the temperature in liquid nitrogen to give the more easily deformed low temperature phase. Upon warming, the frames return to their original shape. (8 MB file)
NiTi is used to make medical devices such as the cardiovascular stents
shown here. The superelastic "springy" property that this alloy
exhibits above its transformation temperature (body temperature) is shown
in the movie. These devices are very resilient even when severely compressed
because of the superelastic property of NiTi.
When cooled below its transformation temperature by liquid nitrogen,
the NiTi transforms to the martensite phase and holds the new shape until
it warms back up. As the stent warms the material transforms from the
martensite phase (stable at low temperatures) to the austenite phase (stable
at high temperatures). When it transforms to austenite it "remembers"
its original shape, which is why NiTi is called a shape memory alloy.
This model has an electrically heated NiTi actuator. Movement of a NiTi wire causes the wings to move.
