FORMATION OF 2-WAY SHAPE-MEMORY EFFECT IN RAPID-QUENCHED TINICU ALLOYS

Recently we have developed a number of devices for an optical radiatio n control based on the shape memory effect. A blind of rapid-quenched TiNiCu alloy having a two-way shape memory in bending was used as a ba sic element. So far as the rapid quenched alloy used is amorphous in i nitial state, it needs thermal annealing to form shape memory. This pa per describes procedure of thermo-mechanical treatment, that allows to form desired two-way shape memory immediately during thermal annealin g of amorphous alloy without training. It was shown that degree of two -way shape recovery depends critically on initial strain, temperature and duration of the annealing. It was experimentally determined optimu m parameters of thermo-mechanical treatment to achieve maximum two-way shape memory.