Titanium Based Shape Memory Alloys From Materials Education Point Of View

Titanium and titanium alloys are famous for their light weight, corrosion resistance and high specific strength properties. Titanium based shape memory alloys exhibit a shape memory effect and super-elasticity due to a thermo-elastic martensitic phase transformation. We describe the mechanism of shape memory and super-elasticity, presented from a basic scientific education point of view. The historical background of titanium based shape memory alloys is also presented. The importance of transformation temperatures for the application of titanium based shape memory alloys is discussed as well also discussed in this paper. The presentation should enable students and researchers easy understanding of the mechanism of operation of shape memory alloys.