Shape memory effect of CuxAl1-xnitinol/MWCNT nanocomposites for actuators in MEMS

Abstract

CuAlNiTi SMA’s are fashionable because of their wide range of useful transformation temperatures, minimal hysteresis, and low price. Carbon nanotubes have a high thermal conductivity and can be used as a heat transfer medium. We want to combine SMA's and CNT's in this study to boost the cycling frequencies of SMA's nano composites by using CNT's superior heat transmission. The nanocomposites (CuxAl1−x-NiTi/MWCNT) (x = 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0). FESEM, EDS, XRD, and TEM demonstrate that a nano-sized nitinol material uniformly concealed the exterior of the MWCNT during the doping process, preserving the sole structure of the pristine MWCNT. The phase transformation temperature from Martensite to Austenite and vice versa is measured using differential scanning calorimetry. The materials hysteresis property is investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The greatest yield strength of the Cu-Al-NiTi/MWCNT nanocomposites is 593 MPa, with an elastic modulus of 103 GPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 857 MPa. For the CuxAl1−xNiTi/MWCNT nanocomposites, the shape recovery and deformation ratios rose from 6.23 to 6.72 and 56–70%, respectively. The shape memory effect may exist with a wide range of transformation temperatures, according to the results of the Cu-Al-NiTi/MWCNT composite. The materials can be employed as electrical and thermal actuators in MEMS, according to the research.