Nickel/titanium/vanadium shape memory alloy

• US 4,505,767 A
• Filed: 10/14/1983
• Issued: 03/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Memry Corporation
• Original Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Quin, Mary P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/541,844
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 148/402, 148/11.5 F, 148/11.5 N, 420/442, 420/441
• US Class Current: 148/402
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 19/007 with a light metal (alkali metal Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; earth alkali metal Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al Ga, Ge, Ti) or B, Si, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y, lanthanides, actinides, as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 30/00 Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent

Abstract

Nickel/titanium alloys having a nickel:titanium atomic ratio between about 1:02 and 1:13 and a vanadium content between about 4.6 and 25.0 atomic percent show constant stress versus strain behavior due to stress-induced martensite in the range from about 0° to 60° C.

Claims

1. A shape memory alloy consisting essentially of nickel, titanium, and vanadium within an area defined on a nickel, titanium, and vanadium ternary composition diagram by a hexagon with its first vertex at 38.0 atomic percent nickel, 37.0 atomic percent titanium, and 25.0 atomic percent vanadium;

its second vertex at 47.6 atomic percent nickel, 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and 6.0 atomic percent vanadium;

its third vertex at 49.0 atomic percent nickel, 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and 4.6 atomic percent vanadium;

its fourth vertex at 49.8 atomic percent nickel, 45.6 atomic percent titanium, and 4.6 atomic percent vanadium;

its fifth vertex at 49.8 atomic percent nickel, 44.0 atomic percent titanium, and 6.2 atomic percent vanadium; and

its sixth vertex at 39.8 atomic percent nickel, 35.2 atomic percent titanium, and 25.0 atomic percent vanadium.

2. The alloy of claim 1 which has an Ni:

Ti atomic ratio between 1.07 and 1.11 and a vanadium content between 5.25 and 15 atomic percent.

3. The alloy of claim 1 which consists essentially of between 47.6 and 48.8 atomic percent nickel, 45.2 and 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and the remainder vanadium.

4. A shape-memory article comprising a shape-memory alloy consisting essentially of nickel, titanium, and vanadium within an area defined on a nickel, titanium, and vanadium ternary composition diagram by a hexagon with its first vertex at 38.0 atomic percent nickel, 37.0 atomic percent titanium, and 25.0 atomic percent vanadium;

its second vertex at 47.6 atomic percent nickel, 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and 6.0 atomic percent vanadium;

its third vertex at 49.0 atomic percent nickel, 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and 4.6 atomic percent vanadium;

its fourth vertex at 49.8 atomic percent nickel, 45.6 atomic percent titanium, and 4.6 atomic percent vanadium;

its fifth vertex as 49.8 atomic percent nickel, 44.0 atomic percent titanium, and 6.2 atomic percent vanadium; and

its sixth vertex at 39.8 atomic percent nickel, 35.2 atomic percent titanium, and 25.0 atomic percent vanadium.

5. The article according to claim 4 which has an Ni:

Ti atomic ratio between 1.07 and 1.11 and a vanadium content between 5.25 and 15 atomic percent.

6. The article according to claim 4 which consists essentially of between 47.6 and 48.8 atomic percent nickel, 45.2 and 46.4 atomic percent titanium, and the remainder vanadium.

7. The article according to claim 4 exhibiting stress-induced martensite.

8. The article according to claim 4 exhibiting stress-induced martensite in the range of 0°

to 60°

C. when in the fully annealed condition.