Simultaneous enhancement of mechanical and shape memory properties by heat-treatment homogenization of Ti_(2)Ni precipitates in TiNi shape memory alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

The excellent shape memory and mechanical properties of Ti Ni shape memory alloys(SMAs) fabricated using selective laser melting(SLM) are highly desirable for a wide range of critical applications. In this study, we examined the simultaneous enhancement of mechanical and shape memory properties using heat-treatment homogenization of Ti_(2)Ni precipitates in a Ti_(50.6)Ni_(49.4)SMA fabricated using SLM. Specifically, because of the complete solution treatment, nanoscale spherical Ti_(2)Ni precipitates were homogeneously dispersed throughout the grain interior. Interestingly, the resultant SMA exhibited an ultrahigh tensile strength of 880 ± 13 MPa, a large elongation of 22.4 ± 0.4%, and an excellent shape memory effect, with a recovery rate of > 98% and ultrahigh recoverable strain of 5.32% after ten loading–unloading cycles. These simultaneously enhanced properties are considerably superior than those of most previously reported Ti Ni SMAs fabricated using additive manufacturing. Fundamentally, the enhancement in tensile strength is ascribed to precipitation strengthening and work hardening, and the large plasticity is mainly attributed to the homogeneous nanoscale globular Ti_(2)Ni precipitates, which effectively impeded the rapid propagation of microcracks. Furthermore, the enhanced shape memory properties are derived from the suppression of dislocation movement and formation of retained stabilized martensite by the presence of high-density dislocations, nanoscale Ti_(2)Ni precipitates, and abundant interfaces. The obtained results provide insight into the enhancement of the two types of properties in Ti Ni SMAs and will accelerate the wider application of SMAs.

Block Copolymer Networks Composed of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Polyethylene with Triple Shape Memory Properties

In this contribution, we reported a novel synthesis of block copolymer networks composed of poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) and polyethylene(PE) via the co-hydrolysis and condensation of α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics. First, α,ω-dihydroxylterminated PCL and PE telechelics were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene followed by hydrogenation of polycyclooctene. Both α,ω-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics were obtained via in situ reaction of α,ω-dihydroxyl-terminated PCL and PE telechelics with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane. The formation of networks was evidenced by the solubility and rheological tests. It was found that the block copolymer networks were microphase-separated. The PCL and PE blocks still preserved the crystallinity. Owing to the formation of crosslinked networks, the materials displayed shape memory properties. More importantly, the combination of PCL with PE resulted that the block copolymer networks had the triple shape memory properties, which can be triggered with the melting and crystallization of PCL and PE blocks. The results reported in this work demonstrated that triple shape memory polymers could be prepared via the formation of block copolymer networks.

PROPERTIES OF FeMnSiCrNi SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

Some mechanical and thermal properties of FeMnSiCrNi shape memory alloys are studied The results show that Fe 14Mn 6Si 9Cr 5Ni alloy among the alloys studied has the best SME with an absolute recovery strain of 6 2% when training method is used The preexisting ε martensite (thermal and stress induced)is beneficial to the shape memory effect Up to a critical prestrain with a critical training time,the absolute recovery strain increases. Any further increase of prestrain or training time leads to the appearance of α′ phase identified by superelasticity measurement Alloys with good SME also have good creep and stress relaxation resistance,and hence possible industrial application for couplings

Enhanced mechanical properties of linear segmented shape memory poly（urethane-urea） by incorporating flexible PEG400 and rigid piperazine

The goal of this study is to design and synthesize a linear segmented shape memory poly（urethane-urea） （SMPUU） that possesses near-body-temperature shape memory temperature （Ttran） and enhanced mechanical properties by incorporating flexible poly（ethylene glycol） 400 （PEG400） to form poly（D,L-lactic acid）-based macro- diols （PDLLA-PEG400-PDLLA） and then rigid piperazine （PPZ） as a chain extender to form the desired SMPUUs （PEG400-PUU-PPZ）. PEG400 increased Mn while maintaining a lower Tg of PDLLA-PEG400-PDLLA, which together with PPZ improved the mechanical properties of PEG400-PUU-PPZ. The obtained optimum SMPUU with enhanced mechanical properties （O＇y = 24.28 MPa; zf = 698%; Uf = 181.5 MJIm3） and a Tg of 40.62~C exhibited sound shape memory properties as well, suggesting a promising SMPUU for in vivo biomedical applications.