Shape memory alloy treatment
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a component formed from a Ni--Ti based shape memory alloy so that the component exhibits superelasticity and to impart a desired shape to the component and thereafter lower the component'"'"'s Af, which comprises:
- (a) cold working the component, the component comprising greater than 50.5 at. % nickel;
(b) restraining the alloy to a desired shape and heat treating the alloy at a temperature that is less than solvus temperature of the alloy, to cause dislocations in the alloy resulting from the cold working step to combine; and
(c) after heat treating the component in the restrained desired shape in step (b), removing the restraint and thereafter heat treating the component at a temperature that is greater than the temperature to which it is exposed in step (b) and less than the solvus temperature of the alloy, causing the component to retain the desired shape and causing the Af temperature to be reduced so that said component is superelastic at body temperature.
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Abstract
A method of treating a component formed from a Ni--Ti based shape memory alloy, so that the component exhibits superelasticity, comprises cold working the component, annealing the alloy while the component is restrained in the configuration resulting from the cold working step, and exposing the component to a temperature that is less than the solvus temperature of the alloy and greater than the temperature to which it is exposed in the annealing step to cause the Af temperature to be reduced.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of treating a component formed from a Ni--Ti based shape memory alloy so that the component exhibits superelasticity and to impart a desired shape to the component and thereafter lower the component'"'"'s Af, which comprises:
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(a) cold working the component, the component comprising greater than 50.5 at. % nickel; (b) restraining the alloy to a desired shape and heat treating the alloy at a temperature that is less than solvus temperature of the alloy, to cause dislocations in the alloy resulting from the cold working step to combine; and (c) after heat treating the component in the restrained desired shape in step (b), removing the restraint and thereafter heat treating the component at a temperature that is greater than the temperature to which it is exposed in step (b) and less than the solvus temperature of the alloy, causing the component to retain the desired shape and causing the Af temperature to be reduced so that said component is superelastic at body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification