The invention relates to a precipitation-strengthened shape memory alloy (SMA) comprising a composition designed and processed such that the precipitation-strengthened SMA meets property objectives comprising a yield strength being more than about 1500 MPa at room temperature, a transformation temperature in a range of about ?15 to 20? C., a misfit in a range of about 0.9-1.1%, wherein the property objectives are design specifications of the precipitation-strengthened SMA.

The present technology relates to a NiMnGa magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloy including twin boundaries type 2, which are deviated approximately +/2-4 degrees from (101) or equivalent crystallographic plane by rotation about [101] or equivalent crystallographic direction. This technology relates also to an actuator, sensor and harvester including MSM element of this technology.

A hallux valgus correction device (1) for correcting hallux valgus, the hallux valgus correction device including: a corrector (10) made of a superelastic alloy; and a fixture (2, 3, and 4) formed from a fabric to attach the corrector, in which the corrector has a hinge part (11) that is rotationally movable in the bending direction and the stretching direction of one toe or a plurality of toes in need of correction.

An earth-boring tool includes a tool body, at least one cutting element, and a retaining member comprising a shape memory material (e.g., alloy, polymer, etc.) located between a surface of the tool body and a surface of the cutting element. The shape memory material is configured to transform, responsive to application of a stimulus, from a first solid phase to a second solid phase. The retaining member comprises the shape memory material in the second solid phase, and at least partially retains the at least one cutting element adjacent the tool body. The shape memory material may be trained in a first phase to a first shape, and trained in a second phase to a second shape. The retaining member may be at least partially within a cavity in the first phase, then transformed to the second phase to apply a force securing the cutting element to the tool body.

A method for manufacturing a surgical needle produced from a wire made of a hyperelastic or superelastic alloy including a NiTi alloy base includes: carrying out a cold shaping or a shaping at ambient temperature of the curved profile of the needle in an appropriate support; subjecting the needle in its support to a thermal treatment in order to memorize the imposed curved-profile geometry; cleaning the needle via a chemical stripping of the electrochemical or electrolytic polishing type or via a chemical solution in order to remove the layer of oxide deposited on the needle during its thermal treatment.

A system and method of reconditioning a SMA or NTE material based core for use in an energy recovery device comprising the step of heating the core for a period of time above a certain temperature to configure the core with its original properties. The system and method can be implemented on site of an energy recovery device or remotely.

A method for fabricating a bi-layer thin film is provided. A first alloy is deposited onto a substrate using a first alloy target to form a first layer of the bi-layer thin film. The first layer may comprise greater than 50 atomic % titanium (Ti) and/or less than 50 atomic % nickel (Ni). The first alloy may be deposited onto the substrate at a first temperature (e.g., room temperature). The substrate may be made of a polymer material (e.g., Kapton). A second alloy is deposited onto the first layer using a second alloy target to form a second layer of the bi-layer thin film. The second layer may comprise greater 50 atomic % nickel and/or less than 50 atomic % titanium. The second alloy may be deposited onto the first layer at a second temperature (e.g., room temperature). The bi-layer thin film may exhibit pseudo elasticity and shape memory effect (SME).

A method of making a superelastic medical device with a radiopaque marker includes threading a radiopaque marker having an elongated shape over a wire comprising a shape memory alloy. After the threading, the wire is secured in a predetermined configuration to a mandrel. While secured to the mandrel, the wire is heat set in an environment comprising an inert gas so as to impart a memory of the predetermined configuration to the wire and superelastic properties to the shape memory alloy. A superelastic medical device including the radiopaque marker is thus formed.

NiTi thin films with composition gradient have the added feature of an intrinsic two-way shape memory effect. According to the invention, a method of fabrication of Ni-rich/(NiTiCu) Ti-rich bi-layer thin film is disclosed. The bi-layer thin film formed compositional gradients at the interface of the films through diffusion. The bi-layer presented a combined pseudo elastic behavior and shape memory effect with a reduced hysteresis. The combination of pseudo elastic with shape memory effect produces an intrinsic two-way shape memory effect (TWSME). This behavior achieved without needing complicated heat treatment and training process. Therefore, it is compatible with MEMS processing.

A nickel-titanium alloy with an average grain size of between 0.2 and 10 microns and a recoverable strain of greater than 9% is disclosed herein, in which the alloy is formed using a method which involves applying a shape set heat treatment to the nickel-titanium alloy. The heat treatment includes applying heat at a temperature between 225? C. and 350? C. for a period of time between 20 and 240 minutes.