METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY MEMBER HAVING SPECIFIC PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

In the present application, a process has been disclosed that controls and adjusts the physical and mechanical properties of a shared memory alloy (SMA). The physical properties include, but are not limited to, transformation temperatures of the various SMA phases, the resulting hysteresis between such phases, suppression of the Martensite phase in relation to the Rhombohedral phase, and the relationship between the start and finish temperatures of the respective phases. Mechanical properties that are controlled and adjusted include, but are not limited to, the yield point, ultimate tensile strength, and ductility. This has been accomplished by the introduction of a known internal stress and the distribution of that stress in the SMA prior to final fabrication of the SMA to a desired shape and prior to imparting memory through a predetermined heat treatment schedule.