The name of the competition under which the program is being implemented: The project is being implemented as part of the grant financing of young scientists under the «Zhas Galim» project, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Project Supervisor:  D.M. Aubakirova

Identifiers:

• Scopus Author ID: 57211000798.

Project research team

Project Abstract:

The global market of shape memory alloys (SMA) showed steady growth in 2015-2021, as they are a combination of various metal elements that exhibit both pseudoelasticity and shape memory effects in response to changes in temperature and electromagnetic force. They can restore their original shape after deformation, and they can change their stiffness, position, and other mechanical properties. Ni-Ti, Cu-Pb-Al, Cu-Al-Ni and Fe-Mn-Si system alloys are the most common types of SME alloys available on the market, which is why they are used in the manufacture of actuators, medical devices, thermal imagers, various high-temperature engines and automobiles. Other factors, including growing demand in the aerospace sector, rising defense spending from governments in both developed and developing countries, and significant growth in the construction industry, are projected to drive the market in the coming years. Looking ahead, according to needs, the global market for SME alloys will grow by an average of 11% over the forecast period (2022-2026). Among SME alloys, Ti-Ni systems are the most commercially successful materials due to their excellent functional properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility with the human body.

However, from the point of view of practical application, the further use of TiNi-based alloys is hindered by several key issues related to its functional properties during operation (low cyclic stability and relatively low transformation temperature) and difficulties in the production process (energy-intensive, labor-intensive, long-term, chemically heterogeneous, difficult to reproduce, low yield of usable material (utilization factor of the material<35%) and high cost)).

To date, almost all work in this field is focused on solving problems related to functional properties and the search for new methods for the synthesis of alloys with SMA based on the Ti-Ni system. This led to significant progress in development, and the main strategies for improving their functional properties were doping with various rare earths and transition metals. According to the currently accepted main direction, alloys with SMA based on the Ti-Ni system consist of at least three components with a content in the range of 5-35 atm. %. However, the formation of some dendritic phases during the production of TiNi-based alloys by various melting methods makes them brittle due to the very large number of elements and unsuitable for practical use. At the same time, due to the huge number of possible combinations of elements in these alloys, the areas of their potential application are also very wide.

Therefore, today it is important to search for alternative ways to produce NiTi alloys and improve their functional properties. One of the main solutions to this problem may be the use of powder metallurgy (PM) methods. In addition, parts made by the PM method from NiTi alloys exhibit better physical and processable properties due to their thinner and more uniform microstructures. The primings obtained by the PM method do not require long-term homogenization annealing, provide the possibility of obtaining blanks of various shapes and sizes, and are characterized by a high material utilization rate (>90%).

Because of the implementation of the project objectives, we will develop the first competitive and affordable advanced technology in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the production of alloys with SMA with high functional properties using the PM method, which will reduce labor, energy and financial costs. The implementation of the project will make it possible to improve existing advanced technologies for the production of alloys with SMA by applying modern PM approaches and will provide new data on their structural and phase state and functional properties.

Project objective: To develop technological processes for the production of products based on alloys of the Ti-Ni-Cu system with shape memory and controlled structure based on the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method.

Expected and achieved project results:

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