Training and two-way shape memory in NiTi alloys: influence on thermal parameters

The two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was studied in a near equiatomic commercial alloy. A training procedure based on a constant load applied in the temperature range of the parent ↔ martensite transformation was carried out on NiTi wires. The efficiency of the method was determined from deformation-temperature measurements by MTA at different training stress and number of cycles. A maximum of two shape memory strain was obtained for a stress training of 115 MPa, independently of number of training cycles. A correlation was established between the TWSME arisen and the permanent strain generated during the training. The A s and A f transitions present a positive shift and the M s and M f a negative one with increasing training stress. All the transitions temperatures decrease with the training cycling. In the trained material, the P→ M and M→ P temperatures and the latent heat of these conversions undergoes a strong decrease with increasing training stress, with a strong asymmetry between the forward and the reversed transitions. The changes of these thermal parameters as a function of the training parameters were studied on a thermodynamic frame.