Memory Alloy Film Production Technology

Japanese material and materials research institutes have developed a mass production alloy thin film production technology that is expected to act as an Actuator material that acts as a micromachine.

The new film is a thin film made of titanium, nickel, and copper, which is heated at 500 degrees Celsius or more to produce a fine crystalline structure. Even if the proportion of copper is changed from 20 to 30% of titanium in the 44 to 49% range, the shape of the shape memory alloy starts to change and the temperature can still maintain 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, which is higher than room temperature. In the past, the metal ratio needed to be precisely controlled, and only 30% of the old film was used by the actuator; the new film could be fully utilized.

If the film is heated by electricity, the overall length will have a 5% expansion range, equivalent to 50 times that of the previous piezoelectric element, and the power of the object will exceed 15 times. It is expected to be used for manipulators that hold cells or Stents that do not block blood vessels.