Buehler discovered NiTi alloy (Nitinol) in 1962, which formed the basis for commercial use of shape memory alloys. SMAs have seen commercial use since the late 1980s, first being used for couplings on oil pipes. SMAs can be deformed when cool but return to their original trained shape upon heating. Common applications of SMAs utilize their pseudo-elastic property at room temperature, such as in eyeglasses and cell phone antennas. Future uses could include self-repairing vehicles, mailboxes that return to shape in the sun, and morphing airplanes and submarines.

2.  Buehler’s discovery of an NiTi alloy (Nitinol) in
1962, formed the basis for commercial use.
Before then shape memory alloys had been
observed but where not affective enough for
practical use.
 SMA’s have seen commercial use since the late
1980’s when they where first used for coupling
on oil pipes.

3.  One way SMA’s are the most common type and can be deformed when cool, but
upon heating, they return to their trained shape.
 Two way SMA’s can be trained to have a cool shape as well as a hot one.
 Different types include
 Ag-Cd 44/49 at.% Cd
 Au-Cd 46.5/50 at.% Cd
 Cu-Al-Ni 14/14.5 wt.% Al and 3/4.5 wt.% Ni
 Cu-Sn approx. 15 at.% Sn
 Cu-Zn 38.5/41.5 wt.% Zn
 Cu-Zn-X (X = Si, Al, Sn)
 Fe-Pt approx. 25 at.% Pt
 Mn-Cu 5/35 at.% Cu
 Fe-Mn-Si
 Pt alloys
 Co-Ni-Al
 Co-Ni-Ga
 Ni-Fe-Ga
 Ti-Pd in various concentrations
 Ni-Ti (~55% Ni

4.  The most common commercial application
involves the pseudo-elastic property during it’s
high temperature state.
 This includes eye-glasses, cell phone antennas,
and so on, which are experiencing their high
temperature state at room temperature.

5.  In the future, if significant steps can taken in cost
reduction, SMA’s will be used for almost every metal
object. Mail boxes could pop back into shape on a sunny
day. That slinky you had as a child would have lasted
longer then thirty minutes.
 Imagine getting into a car wreck, then only needing to
hold a torch to your vehicle to repair the damage.
 There are endless new uses for Biomedical applications,
such as surgical equipment and mechanical devices.
 There could also be morphing airplanes and submarines
that could increase efficiency at different speeds.

6.  In the future, if significant steps can taken in cost
reduction, SMA’s will be used for almost every metal
object. Mail boxes could pop back into shape on a sunny
day. That slinky you had as a child would have lasted
longer then thirty minutes.
 Imagine getting into a car wreck, then only needing to
hold a torch to your vehicle to repair the damage.
 There are endless new uses for Biomedical applications,
such as surgical equipment and mechanical devices.
 There could also be morphing airplanes and submarines
that could increase efficiency at different speeds.