The unique performance offerings of NiTi based shape memory alloys (SMAs), which includes the shape memory effect (SME), pseudoelasticity (PE) and biocompatibility have led to widespread acceptance of these alloys as valuable engineering materials. Over the past several decades the complex metallurgy behind the SME and PE properties has for the most part been uncovered and the design and engineering knowhow has been demonstrated; facilitating successful application of NiTi devices in numerous industries. Specifically, more mature applications in the medical industry including medical devices such as, catheters, guide wires, orthodontic arch wires, maxillofacial reconstruction implants, minimally invasive surgical tools, and arterial and gastrointestinal stents, have become common practice in modern medicine. Recently however, there has been a drive for more demanding functionality of SMAs for example to locally modify properties creating tuneable or gradient SME and PE performance. Unique processing protocols are therefore necessary to meet these demands and allow SMAs to reach their full potential in a wider range of applications. The current thesis successfully details the application of pulsed Nd:YAG laser processing along with post-processing techniques to locally tune both the SME and PE functional properties of monolithic binary NiTi wires and strip, while maintaining confidence in the retained corrosion performance and limited release of biologically harmful Ni ions. This extensive study contains three distinct parts which include: i) application of a laser induced vaporization protocol to locally embed multiple memories in a monolithic wire actuator; ii) uncovering the process, structure, and performance relationship of combined laser, cold working, and heat treatment processes; and iii) comprehensive characterization of surface characteristics and their relationship with corrosion performance and Ni ion release from laser processed material.

The exciting thermomechanical properties of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys have sparked significant research efforts seeking to exploit their exotic capabilities. Until recently, the performance capabilities of nickel-titanium devices have been inhibited by the retention of only one thermomechanical characteristic. However, laser processing technology promises to deliver enhanced material offerings which are capable of multiple functional responses. Presented in this thesis, is an investigation of the effects of laser processing on the thermomechanical behaviour of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys. In the context of this work, laser processing refers to removal of alloy constituents, as in the case of laser ablation, or alternatively, addition of elements through laser alloying. The effects of laser ablation on the composition, crystallography and phase transformation temperatures of a nickel-titanium strip have been studied. Application of laser energy was shown to ablate nickel constituents, induce an austenite-martensite phase change and cause an increase in phase transformation onset temperatures, which correlated well with reported findings. Laser processing of a nickel-titanium wire was shown to locally embed an additional thermomechanical response which manifested as unique shape memory and pseudoelastic properties. Localized alloying of ternary species via laser processing of nickel-titanium strip was investigated. Synthesis of a ternary shape memory intermetallic within the laser processing region was achieved through melting of copper foils. Results from thermoanalytical testing indicated that the ternary compound possessed a higher phase transformation temperature and reduced transformation hysteresis in comparison to the reference alloy. Indentation testing was used to demonstrate the augmented thermomechanical characteristics of the laser processed shape memory alloy. In order to demonstrate the enhanced functionality of laser processed nickel-titanium shape memory alloys, a self-positioning nickel-titanium microgripper was fabricated. The microgripper was designed to actuate through four different positions, corresponding to activation of three embedded shape memory characteristics. Thermoanalytical and tensile testing instrumentations were used to characterize the thermomechanical performance of the laser processed nickel-titanium microgripper. Results indicated that each of the laser processed microgripper components possessed unique mechanical and shape memory recovery properties.

Martensite-to-Beta transformation temperatures of CuAlNiMn and CuAlNi shape memory alloys has been determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In CuAlNiMn alloys, each new betatizing treatment has resulted in randomly varying transformation temperatures on the same specimen and an anomalously diffuse and serrated Martensite-to-Beta transformation peaks in the first cycle. Therefore, as quenched alloy samples were thermally cycled for three times in DSC prior to ageing to obtain thermally stable and reproducible transformation temperatures and to eliminate the anomalous effect of betatizing on the transformation temperatures. CuAlNiMn alloys were aged in martensitic condition at temperatures in the range 80&amp / #61616 / C to 150&amp / #61616 / C for 24 hours to 312 hours ageing periods. Both A_s and A_f temperatures have increased with ageing temperature and time while M_s and M_f temperatures have not changed during martensite ageing. Transformation temperatures of CuAlNi alloys, on the other hand, have not changed during martensite ageing. In this respect, CuAlNiMn alloys were found to be more prone to martensite stabilization than the CuAlNi alloys. Through Transmission Electron Microscope investigation in the Cu-12.6wt%Al-5.9wt%Ni-1.8wt%Mn alloy aged at 150&amp / #61616 / C for 312 hours has revealed no sign of precipitate formation and it has been concluded that the &amp / #65533 / precipitates pinning martensite boundaries&amp / #65533 / mechanism could not be responsible of martensite stabilization. Beta phase ageing of CuAlNiMn alloys at temperatures 200&amp / #61616 / C, 230&amp / #61616 / C, 250&amp / #61616 / C and 270&amp / #61616 / C, have drastically shortened the periods for stabilization to the extent that &amp / #946 / -to-M transformation completely ceases. With regard to the Manganese content, highest Manganese bearing alloy was the one stabilized first and the lowest manganese containing one was the longest lasting alloy during beta phase ageing. Beta stabilization was not observed in any of the four CuAlNi alloys at the end of 96 hours ageing at 200&amp / #61616 / C while beta stabilization was realized after 26, 38 and 11 hours ageing at the same temperature in the three Mn containing alloys studied. In conclusion, on the basis of ageing studies at 200&amp / #61616 / C, with regard to beta stabilization, CuAlNi alloys were found to be more resistant to high temperature ageing than CuAlNiMn alloys. Equilibrium &amp / #947 / _2 and &amp / #945 / phases were observed with coupled-grown lamellar morphologies in Cu-13.6%Al-3.0%Ni alloy aged above 400&amp / #61616 / C.

TiNiPd high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) have attracted considerable attention as potential solid-state actuators capable of operating at temperatures up to 500 °C, exhibiting excellent corrosion resistance, adequate ductility levels and significant strain recovery under both constrained and unconstrained thermomechanical conditions. During operation, these actuators may be subjected to multiple cycles and from an application point of view, the functional stability, i.e. conservation of original actuator dimensions and transformation temperatures during repeated employment, is of considerable importance. This study addresses the issue of functional stability in a model HTSMA, Ti50.5Ni24.5Pd25, for its use as a compact solid-state actuator. Since the primary reason for functional instability is the creation of lattice defects (dislocations, vacancies, etc.) during repeated transformation cycles, several methods were successfully undertaken to improve the functional stability through inhibiting the generation of these defects. Solid-solution strengthening through Sc microalloying and thermomechanical treatments via severe plastic deformation were the two approaches used to strengthen the HTSMA against defect generation. Thermal cycling the HTSMA under stress was the third method to voluntarily introduce defects into the microstructure such that further defect generation during application would be impeded. Overall, severe plastic deformation was found to be more efficient than other strengthening methods in improving the functional stability of TiNiPd HTSMA, yet it brought about disadvantages such as reduction in transformation strain and transformation temperatures. While functional instability is due to the creation of lattice defects, the generation of these defects is mainly controlled by the crystallographic incompatibility between martensitically transforming phases and the strength levels for plastic deformation. It was shown that TiNiPd HTSMAs, which exhibited martensitic transformation from a cubic (B2) to orthorhombic (B19) symmetry, illustrated better compatibility and thus better functional stability levels compared to TiNi SMAs, which had a B2 to monoclinic (B19’) transition. Although crystallographic incompatibility seems to be the governing factor for the functional stability of the TiNiPd HTSMA, the strength differential between the onset of plastic deformation and local constraint due to the martensitic transformation was also found to be an influential factor determining the overall stable behavior. Functional stability was also investigated for the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) in TiNiPd HTSMAs. Better strength and compatibility levels compared to TiNi SMAs were also reflected in the TWSME characteristics in the form of enhanced stability under stress-free thermal cycling. The stability during constrained thermal cycling was not as good and TWSME degraded rapidly while doing work against an opposing stress. Nevertheless, work output levels were much higher as compared to those obtained from conventional TiNi and Cu-based SMAs.

Previous experimental observations have shown that the pseudoelastic response of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) is localized in nature and proceeds through nucleation and propagation of localized deformation bands. It has also been observed that the mechanical response of SMAs is strongly affected by loading rate and cyclic degradation. These behaviors significantly limit the accurate modeling of SMA elements used in various devices and applications. The aim of this work is to provide engineers with a constitutive model that can accurately describe the dynamic, unstable pseudoelastic response of SMAs, including their cyclic response, and facilitate the reliable design of SMA elements. A 1-D phenomenological model is developed to simulate the localized phase transformations in NiTi wires during both loading and unloading. In this model, it is assumed that the untransformed particles located close to the transformed regions are less stable than those further away from the transformed regions. By consideration of the thermomechanical coupling among the stress, temperature, and latent heat of transformation, the analysis can account for strain-rate effects. Inspired by the deformation theory of plasticity, the 1-D model is extended to a 3-D macromechanical model of localized unstable pseudoelasticity. An important feature of this model is the reorientation of the transformation strain tensor with changes in stress tensor. Unlike previous modeling efforts, the present model can also capture the propagation of localized deformation during unloading. The constitutive model is implemented within a 2-D finite element framework to allow numerical investigation of the effect of strain rate and boundary conditions on the overall mechanical response and evolution of localized transformation bands in NiTi strips. The model successfully captures the features of the transformation front morphology, and pseudoelastic response of NiTi strip samples observed in previous experiments. The 1-D and 3-D constitutive models are further extended to include the plastic deformation and degradation of material properties as a result of cyclic loading.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-03-14T21:54:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 NATHÁLIA CRISTINA MORAIS LIA FOOK - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 2182368 bytes, checksum: 5948d7190b44ee52e0cbfdbf788ee8dd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-14T21:54:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NATHÁLIA CRISTINA MORAIS LIA FOOK - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 2182368 bytes, checksum: 5948d7190b44ee52e0cbfdbf788ee8dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-05 / Capes / As ligas de Ni-Ti têm possibilitado uma melhoria em muitos projetos tradicionais de engenharia e das áreas médicas e ortodônticas, com suas propriedades únicas de superelasticidade e efeito de memória de forma. Nas últimas décadas, as pesquisas e análises para aplicações destas ligas se tornaram cada vez mais específicas, para estudos sobre micro e nano atuadores visando aplicações em dispositivos médicos e ortodônticos e em microssistemas eletromecânicos. Assim, os processos de soldagem se tornaram importantes aliados, promovendo a união entre atuadores de liga de memória de forma (LMF) com semelhantes e dissemelhantes, uma forma de aumentar as aplicações úteis de materiais disponíveis, principalmente como biomateriais. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo geral a avaliação da resistência à corrosão em uma região de solda obtida por microssoldagem TIG autógena em fios de Ni-Ti superelásticos com fios de Ni-Ti termoativados em solução que simula a saliva humana. Os fios soldados também passaram por um tratamento térmico feito com base em um planejamento fatorial 3². A caracterização dos fios íntegros e soldados (com e sem tratamento térmico) foi realizada utilizando ensaios de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e também quanto à resistência à corrosão. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que o processo de soldagem TIG utilizado neste trabalho gerou juntas soldadas de excelente qualidade, apresentando uma boa resistência à corrosão no eletrólito que simula a saliva humana. O planejamento experimental utilizado para verificar a influência da temperatura e do tempo do tratamento térmico nos resultados de corrosão gerou um experimento ótimo com temperatura de 350°C e um tempo no intervalo de 20 a 40 minutos. Estes resultados foram confirmados através dos ensaios de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica. / The Ni-Ti alloys have enabled the improvement in many projects from the traditional engineering and from the medical and orthodontic areas with their unique properties of superelasticity and shape memory effect. In recent decades, researches and analysis for applying these alloys have become increasingly more specific, tending to studies on micro and nano actuators targeting applications in medical and orthodontic devices and in electromechanical microsystems. Thus, the welding processes have become important allies by promoting the union between shape memory alloy actuators (SMA) with similar and dissimilar ones, which is one way of increasing the useful applications of available materials, especially biomaterials. In this context, this study aimed at analyzing the corrosion resistance in the weld region obtained by autogenous TIG micro welding in Ni-Ti superelastic wires with thermo-active Ni-Ti wires in a solution that simulates human saliva. The welded wires also Soldiers wires also undergone heat treatment made based on a factorial design 3. The characterization of the original and welded wires (with and without heat treatment) was performed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests and also regarding its resistance to corrosion. The results revealed that the TIG welding process used in this work generated welds of excellent quality, showing a good resistance to corrosion in the electrolyte that simulates human saliva. The experimental design used to investigate the influence of temperature and time of heat treatment in corrosion results generated a great experiment with temperature of 350 °C and time in the range of 20 to 40 minutes. These results were confirmed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à l’étude de la dissipation mécanique produite par des alliages à mémoire de forme Cu-Zn-Al lors d'un chargement mécanique cyclique, ainsi qu'à l’influence de la composition chimique sur cette grandeur. Divers alliages ont été élaborés dans ce but, chacun présentant une faible variation de composition par rapport à l’autre. Une procédure expérimentale originale a été mise au point pour mesurer cette dissipation mécanique car elle se traduit par une source de chaleur très inférieure à celles dues à d’autres phénomènes comme la chaleur latente de changement de phase ou le couplage thermoélastique. Les éprouvettes ont ainsi été soumises à divers essais cycliques à température ambiante constante alors qu’une caméra infrarouge filmait les champs thermiques sur leur surface. Ces films thermiques ont ensuite été traités pour en extraire cette dissipation mécanique. Divers niveaux de dissipation correspondant à divers niveaux d’irréversibilité mécanique ont ainsi été mis en évidence. / The study deals with the mechanical dissipation in Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys subjected to cyclic mechanical loading, as well as with the influence of the chemical composition on this dissipation. Various alloys were prepared for this purpose, each of them featuring a slight change with respect to the others. An original procedure has been proposed to measure mechanical dissipation because it is very low compared to other heat sources such as latent heat or thermoelastic coupling. The specimens have been subjected to cyclic tests at constant ambient temperature while an infrared camera grabbed the thermal images. These thermal maps have been then processed to extract mechanical dissipation. Various levels have been found, corresponding to various levels of mechanical irreversibilities.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-07-16T13:34:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ECLYS DE OLIVEIRA SOARES MONTENEGRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2016.pdf: 5996362 bytes, checksum: 84827496654dcae4004aea6958439570 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-16T13:34:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ECLYS DE OLIVEIRA SOARES MONTENEGRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2016.pdf: 5996362 bytes, checksum: 84827496654dcae4004aea6958439570 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-01 / Estudos recentes têm mostrado que as telas de titânio estão sendo utilizadas para auxiliar na recuperação de fraturas ósseas em diversas partes do corpo humano, como face, mandíbula, crânio e joelho. Esses componentes apresentam como vantagens uma elevada resistência mecânica somada a uma baixa espessura, necessária para a ancoragem de partes fraturadas e importante para prevenir a irritação no processo pós-operatório, buscando ainda reduzir a taxa de re-operação. Assim, vislumbrando uma melhor eficiência futura dessa aplicação, surge o interesse em analisar o comportamento termomecânico desse tipo de implante, porém fabricado a partir das ligas com memória de forma (LMF), que são materiais que apresentam propriedades funcionais como o efeito memória de forma (EMF) e a superelasticidade (SE). Estas peculiaridades, aliadas a biocompatibilidade das LMF Ni-Ti tem levado à sua utilização no desenvolvimento de dispositivos médicos implantáveis. Nesse contexto, aplicar telas de LMF Ni-Ti, com boa resistência mecânica e deformações reversíveis, para potencializar aplicações biomédicas em substituição a telas de titânio, é um desafio tecnológico atual. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo realizar a caracterização termomecânica de telas de LMF Ni-Ti e Ni-Ti-Cu produzidas por fundição de precisão com três geometrias celulares distintas (circular, hexagonal e quadrada) e em três estados (brutas de fundição, tratadas termicamente e laminadas). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as telas produzidas apresentaram a transformação de fase característica dos fenômenos de EMF e SE, além de deformações reversíveis em tração da ordem de até 5%. O tipo de geometria celular foi o fator de maior influência nos valores de resistência mecânica e os melhores resultados foram verificados nas telas de geometria circular. Nos ensaios termomecânicos de flexão, além do tipo de célula, os resultados foram bastante influenciados pela espessura das telas e tratamentos térmicos utilizados. Dessa forma, as telas produzidas apresentam características funcionais adequadas para potencializar aplicações biomédicas a partir de LMF Ni-Ti em substituição as telas de titânio puro, que não se beneficiam de propriedades funcionais de EMF e SE. / Recent studies have shown that titanium meshes are being used to assist in the recovery of bone fractures in various parts of the human body such as the face, jaw, skull and knee. These components have advantages as a high strength coupled with a low thickness required for anchoring of fractured parts important to prevent irritation postoperatively process still looking to reduce the rate of re-operation. Thus, by anticipating a future better efficiency of this application, arises interest in analyzing the thermomechanical behavior of this type of implant, but manufactured from alloys with shape memory (SMA), which are materials that exhibit functional properties such as shape memory effect (SME) and superelastic (SE). These peculiarities, coupled with biocompatibility of LMF NiTi has led to their use in the development of implantable medical devices. In this context, apply SMA meshes, with good mechanical strength and reversible deformation to enhance biomedical applications replacing titanium screens, it is a current technological challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out the thermomechanical characterization of Ni-Ti and Ni-Ti-Cu SMA meshes produced by precision casting with three different cell geometries (circular, hexagonal and square) and three states (as foundry, thermally treated and laminated). The results showed that the screens produced showed the phase transformation phenomena characteristic of EMF and SE, and reversible deformation in order draw up to 5%. The type of cell geometry was the most influential factor in the strength values and the best results were obtained in the circular geometry screens. In the thermomechanical bending tests, and the type of cell, results were greatly influenced by the thickness of the screens and thermal treatments. Thus, the meshes produced had enough features to enhance biomedical applications from SMA to replace the titanium meshes, which do not benefit from functional properties.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-26T19:19:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 HENRIQUE MARTINNI RAMOS DE OLIVEIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 5119070 bytes, checksum: 23504b03a49c79c4f4d5a4f8815ee9ac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-26T19:19:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HENRIQUE MARTINNI RAMOS DE OLIVEIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 5119070 bytes, checksum: 23504b03a49c79c4f4d5a4f8815ee9ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-01 / CNPq / Capes / As Ligas com Memória de Forma (LMF) devem seu comportamento único a uma transformação de fase reversível entre duas estruturas cristalinas: martensita (baixa temperatura e menor rigidez) e austenita (alta temperatura e maior rigidez). Essa transformação pode ocorrer em consequência de dois estímulos diferentes: uma mudança de temperatura ou aplicação de tensão mecânica, ambos acima de valores críticos característicos desses materiais. Do segundo caso resulta o fenômeno da superelasticidade, que é a capacidade de recuperar totalmente a deformação após o carregamento e descarregamento mecânico na fase de mais alta temperatura (austenita). No decorrer dessa deformação ocorre a transformação de fase induzida por tensão da austenita para a martensita. Esta transformação é exotérmica e tende a se estabilizar após certo número de ciclos de deformação. Estudos sobre as propriedades dinâmicas das LMF mostram que o comportamento superelástico é dependente da taxa de deformação, ou em outras palavras, da frequência de excitação. Este comportamento resulta da combinação complexa entre tensão mecânica, temperatura e taxa de dissipação do calor latente gerado no material. Observou-se também que altas frequências diminuem a capacidade de dissipação de calor latente, resultando no aumento de temperatura do material e valores de tensão de transformação de fase maiores. Considerações como estas são importantes para a modelagem do comportamento dinâmico do material, aplicável, por exemplo, em sistemas de absorção de vibração de construções civis. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é estudar experimentalmente a influência da frequência sobre o comportamento dinâmico superelástico de fios de LMF Ni-Ti pré-estabilizados, assim como os efeitos da geração de calor sobre as propriedades mecânicas avaliadas. Os testes realizados corresponderam a ensaios dinâmicos de tração uniaxial em fios superelásticos de LMF Ni-Ti com variação de freqüência e simultâneo acompanhamento de temperatura do material, usando uma máquina de ensaios da marca MTS modelo MTS 793 series. / Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) owe their behavior unique to a reversible phase transformation between two crystalline structures: martensite (low temperature and stiffness) and austenite (high temperature and stiffness). This phase change can occur as a result of two distinct stimuli: a change in temperature or an applied mechanical stress, both over certain critical values, characteristic of this materials. From the latter it results the phenomenon of the superelasticity, which is the ability to totally recover a deformation after simply ceasing the load. During this deformation occurs a stressinduced martensitic transformation from austenite to martensite, being it an exothermal process and that tends to stabilize after a certain number of cycles. Investigation concerning dynamic properties of SMA demonstrate that its superelastic behavior depends on the strain rate, or in other words, on the excitation frequency. This behavior results from the complex combination of mechanical stress, temperature and rate of latent heat dissipation generated in the material. It was also observed that high frequencies diminish the capacity of dissipation of latent heat, resulting in an increase in the material temperature and, therefore, in higher values of phase transformation stresses. This kind of consideration is fundamental in dynamic behavior modeling, applicable for instance, in vibration absorption systems in civil building. In this context, the objective of this work is experimentally study the influence of the frequency on superelastic behavior of pre-stabilized Ni-Ti SMA superelastic wires, as well as the effects of heat generation on the evaluated mechanical properties. Dynamical tests were performed in a uniaxial tensile mode in Ni-Ti SMA superelastic wires varying the frequency and simultaneously monitoring sample’s temperature, using a test machine from MTS, model MTS 793 series.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013. / This thesis outlines a proposed mechanical design, prototyping and testing of a five fingered artificial hand made of 15 articulated joints actuated by Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) mimicking muscular functions. SMAs Artificial muscles were incorporated in the forearm and artificial tendons made of nylon wires passing through a hollow palm transmit the pulling force to bend the fingers. Torsion springs set in each joint of the fingers create enough restoring force to straighten the finger when the actuators are disengaged. Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) wires were intrinsically embedded within the hand structure allowing significant movements mimicking human hand-like gestures. A control box made of switches connected to the artificial hand helps to control each gesture. A modular approach was taken in the design to facilitate the manufacture and assembly processes. Nickel-Titanium wires were used as actuators to perform the artificial muscle functions by changing their crystallographic structures due to Joule's heating. Rapid prototyping techniques were employed to manufacture the hand in ABS plastic.