A stabilized, high stress self-biasing shape memory alloy actuator

A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator that is biased internally would not need an external bias to achieve multiple actuation cycles. This would reduce cost, complexity and weight compared to standard one-way SMAs. The self-biasing actuators that have been developed to date have a lack of geometric and actuation stability. The current study developed a self-biasing NiTi actuator using a laser based vaporization process to alter the bulk composition of different regions. The martensitic laser processed NiTi region was the actuator, and un-processed austenitic base metal region was the internal bias. It was discovered that the laser processed region of the self-biasing actuator was unstable during high stress thermomechanical cycling due to the coarse grained microstructure. Cold-working of the half martensitic and half austenitic component resulted in similar deformation characteristics to single phase NiTi, which enabled the formation of a uniform nanocrystalline microstructure in both regions. When thermomechanically cycled 6000 times under stresses ranging from 180 to 400 MPa, it was discovered that this treated self-biasing actuator exhibited the stabilization behavior of traditional one-way actuators. This behavior was due to the uniform nanocrystalline microstructure, which impeded dislocation activity and ensured minimal plastic deformation.