Annealing behavior and shape memory effect in NiTi alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing at room temperature

A martensitic NiTi shape memory alloy was processed successfully by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) for one pass at room temperature using a core–sheath billet design. The annealing behavior and shape memory effect of the ECAP specimens were studied followed by post-deformation annealing (PDA) at 673 K for various times. The recrystallization and structural evolution during annealing were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and microhardness measurements. The results indicate that the shape memory effect improves by PDA after ECAP processing. Annealing for 10 min gives a good shape memory effect which leads to a maximum in recoverable strain of 6.9 pct upon heating where this is more than a 25 pct improvement compared with the initial state.