Laser annealing of functionally graded NiTi thin plate

This paper reports the creation of functionally graded NiTi thin plates by means of surface laser annealing. Variation in the heat penetrating the plate thickness created a progressive degree of annealing, and thus a microstructural gradient, within the thickness of the plate. Upon heating, the deformed plates undergo a temperature-induced progressive reverse transformation, consequently exhibiting a complex mechanical behaviour for actuation. These plates also exhibit enlarged temperature windows for the transformation, providing a mechanism for easy actuation control.