‌Nickel-Titanium Alloy: A Material with Shape Memory Effect and Superelasticity‌

Nickel-titanium alloy, also known as Nitinol, is an alloy composed of nickel (Ni) and titanium (Ti). Its unique properties, including shape memory effect and superelasticity, make it widely applicable in fields such as medicine, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing.

The ‌shape memory effect‌ refers to the alloy's ability to return to its original shape upon heating or cooling. When deformed, it can revert to its pre-set shape when heated to a specific temperature (typically above its austenite transformation temperature). This property is particularly valuable in medical applications. For example, stents, clamps, and anastomotic devices can be shaped during surgery and then restored to their original form via body heat or external heating once implanted.

‌Superelasticity‌ describes the alloy's capacity to undergo significant deformation under stress while recovering its original shape immediately after stress removal. This characteristic makes it ideal for components requiring frequent deformation and recovery.

Nickel-titanium alloys are typically produced by melting pure nickel and titanium under controlled conditions. Their microstructure consists of austenite and martensite phases, and the relative content and distribution of these phases determine the alloy's properties.