Shape memory and superelastic alloy material "Nickel-Titanium alloy"

The origin of new materials with expanding applications.

This new material gained recognition for its use in women's underwear, but its application development was slow due to constraints such as price and processability, despite its acknowledged performance. With advancements in cost reduction through rationalization and the development of processing technologies, its adoption has progressed in a wide range of fields, including mobile phone antenna elements, eyeglass frames, catheter guide wires, and fishing gear. It became famous for its shape memory effect, which allows it to return to a predetermined shape when heated, but more products utilizing its superelastic properties, which enable it to return to its original shape like rubber even after deformation, have been developed. The temperature at which the shape memory effect occurs can be altered by slight differences in composition and heat treatment conditions. The material that retains its memory at room temperature is referred to as a superelastic alloy, while the one that remains soft and does not return to its original shape when bent at room temperature is called a shape memory alloy. Shape memory alloys also exhibit the same properties as superelastic alloys in high-temperature environments where the memory is activated. Currently, most of the products in use are wires, but ultra-thin tubes for catheters have become possible to manufacture. For more details, please contact us or refer to the catalog.

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