NiTiPd Shape Memory Alloys for Sensor and Actuator Applications

The growing trend towards miniaturization has attracted interest in NiTiPd-alloys for shape memory alloy (SMA) sensor and actuator applications.. In the present study, different NiTiPd-Alloys with up to 40 at.-% Pd content and an Austenite finish temperature between 90°C and 200°C have been made in order to investigate their properties and to select significant alloy variants to be further examined.

The goodthermal stability of the high transformation temperatures and the low thermal hysteresis of NiTiPd-Alloys are only some potential benefits for high temperature SMA actuators with good dynamical properties and long strokes, and thus low preload stresses. With these properties, a wide range of applications may be covered, for example automotive applications within the engine compartment. Such applications have high requirements on switching temperatures over 120°C, good dynamics and an improved thermal stability up to 100°C.

Experimental results will focus on microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal transformation characteristics of various NiTiPd-alloys and their comparison with other high temperature SMA.