INTERMETALLIC MICROSTRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF NITI (NITINOL) SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY WITH LASER WELDING TO VARIOUS MATERIALS

Abstract

In this ever-changing and evolving world, the demand for material goods is ever increasing. Certain metals and materials have become highly sought-after. The demand for new alloys for various commercial and medical applications increases every day [1]. To address the new age industry demands, focusing on longevity, versatility, extreme load case scenarios, and commercial viability, scientists have to develop new manufacturing techniques and methods. This will enable them to create and mass-produce various new metal alloys that can meet the demands for the designs of new products and replace traditional elements, such as carbon steel or aluminum, in existing products with an ever-increasing workload. This paper will focus on the discovery, development, evolution, manufacturing, uses, and commercial viability of Nitinol (NiTi) and what impact it has had due to its unique properties across many industries. Super-elastic Nitinol has become a familiar and wellknown engineering material in the medical industry over the last couple of decades. While the greater flexibility of the alloy drives many of the applications, there are many lesser-known advantages of Nitinol in medical devices. [1, 2, 3]