Manufacturing of nanostructured Ti–Ni shape memory alloys by means of cold/warm rolling and annealing thermal treatment

In this study, different combinations of cold and warm rolling are compared to determine the processing conditions that will best allow the production of nanostructured Ti–Ni shape memory alloy, while reducing mechanical damage from rolling and enhancing the material texture. The processed alloy is characterized using stress-free strain recovery and constrained stress recovery techniques, both in static and cyclic regimes. The results of a comparative functional characterization of nanostructured Ti–Ni alloy obtained by six different manufacturing routes are discussed and evaluated.

► Nanostructured Ti–Ni shape memory alloys can be produced by severe cold rolling.
► Those alloys exhibit high functional properties but poor fatigue life.
► Warm rolling is proposed to enhance fatigue life.
► Fatigue life of warm rolled material is 150% longer than cold rolled material.