Shape Memory Alloy Products

Shape Memory Alloy Description

Shape memory alloys are metals that, even if they become deformed at below a given temperature, they will return to their original shape before deformation simply by being heated. Alloys with this unusual characteristic are used as functional materials in temperature sensors, actuators, and clamping fixtures.

These metals also have a quality called superelasticity; like rubber, when it is bent or stretched, it will return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. This characteristic of recovering shape despite substantial deformation is exploited in applications in products for daily life, in electrical and electronic appliances, and in the medical field.There currently are several dozen types of alloys with such shape-memory properties and superelasticity, but Ni-Ti alloys have the best shape-recovery performance, durability, and corrosion-resistance.

Shape memory alloy is also known as SMA, smart metal, memory metal, memory alloy, muscle wire, smart alloy, etc.. It is considered one of the most promising smart materials in the market today. It can provide novel solutions in various applications (e.g. actuator, biomedical application, clamping systems, etc.). Among the commercially available shape memory alloys, nickel-titanium (Ni–Ti and Ni–Ti based nitinol alloy) ones are outstanding due to their excellent performance, reliability, and strain recovery properties. Ni–Ti is attractive for medical applications due to its biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and fatigue behavior. Nitinol is always used to make dental braces, spectacle frames and stents.

Nickel titanium alloy is soft, so nitinol spectacle frames are comfortable to wear. And if they are bent accidentally, the wearer can return the frames to their original shape by immersing them in hot water.

SSC is a world leader in medical and industrial applications requiring nitinol alloys and complex manufacturing processes. With decades of steadily increasing competency in nitinol metallurgy, we are the ideal partner for developing advanced shape memory alloy products.

Features of Shape Memory Alloy

● Substantial shape-memory, recoverable strain

● Superb corrosion resistance

● Quality assurance through our integrated manufacturing system

● High-precision device design

● Diverse shapes (Ultrafine wire, Ultrathin sheets, Wire, Various springs)

Physical Properties of Shape Memory Alloy

Alloy Types

Our Processing Capabilities

● Laser-cutting

● Shape Setting

● EDM

● Grinding

● Surface Finishing

● Joining

● Coiling

● Inspections / Testing

Our Product Specifications

Billet & Slab

● Condition - hot forged

● Size - various

● Surface finishes

         As forged oxide

         As rolled oxide

         Peeled/machined

Coil / Wire Rod

● Condition - hot rolled

● Nominal diameters

         0.250" (6.35mm)

         0.330" (8.38mm)

         0.390" (9.91mm)

         0.465" (11.58mm)

         0.551" (14.00mm)

         0.590" (14.99mm)

● Surface finish – as rolled oxide

Bar / Rod

● Conditions

         Hot rolled

         Hot rolled and heat treated (aged) for superelastic behavior at room temperature

● Diameter – 0.500" (12.7mm) to 1.270" (32mm) with larger sizes upon request

● Surface finishes

         Centerless ground

         Oxide (if heat treated)

         As hot rolled oxide

         Optional precision gun drilling

Plate

● Condition - hot rolled

● Thickness range – 0.125" (3.18mm) and above

● Custom length and width, typically 12" x 48" (300mm x 1200mm)

● Surface finishes

         Typical - sand blasted

         Optional - as rolled oxide

Rings

● Condition - hot ring rolled

● Size - various

● Surface finishes

         As rolled oxide

         Machined

Redraw Wire

● Condition – as drawn with cold work up to 50%

● Diameter range – 0.050" (1.27mm) to 0.350" (8.89mm)

● Surface finishes

         Oxide free (pickled/etched)

         As drawn oxide

● Typically supplied on DIN 355 or weld wire spools – alternatives upon request

Wire & Strip

● Wire Diameter – Ø0.001" (25.4 µm) to 0.185" (4.7 mm)

● Strip Size – Width: 0.012" (0.305 mm) to 0.200" (5.08), Thickness: 0.003" (76.2 µm) to 0.040" (1.016 mm)

● Surface finishes

         Soft black oxide (chalky texture)

         Hard black oxide

         Oxide free (chemical etch)

         Oxide free polished (chem etch + mechanical polish)

         Amber oxide

● Typically supplied on DIN 100, DIN 125, DIN 355, or other customer defined spools

Tube / Capillary

● Diameter – Ø0.005" (0.127mm) to 0.472" (11.989mm)

● Standard finishes

         Light Oxide OD - as Drawn ID (Hypo tube)

         Light Oxide OD - Oxide Free ID (Hypo tube)

         Combinations of Light Oxide and Oxide Free ODs & IDs (Stent)

         Ground OD - Oxide Free ID (Precision Tube)

Applications of Shape Memory and Superelastic Alloy

● Consumer electronics: Coffee makers, mobile phone antennas

● Industrial machinery: Pipe seams, fire dampers

● Household equipment: Mixing water faucets, gas water heaters, water regulator valves, subfloor vents, hot water shutoff valves for water purifiers

● Transport machinery and equipment: Evaporative emission control systems

● Personal accessories: Brassiere underwires, eyeglass frames, shoulder pad wires, petticoats, accessories

● Medical equipment: Dental implants, orthodontic braces wire, guide wires

● Hobbies: Toys, spinner lures, fishing through-wire