Session: 02-02: Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Material and Characterization Standards

Paper Number: 111420

111420 - Standard Material Specifications for Shape Memory Alloys for Actuation 

Shape memory alloy (SMA) based actuators are currently used for many commercial applications across several industries including medical, consumer goods, automotive and space exploration. With the capability of generating large forces and doing significant work in a very robust, energy dense, and compact design, SMA provides a high value actuation technology for a broad range of aeronautical applications as well. Despite these proven benefits, their transition from prototype demonstration to commercial use in flight critical aeronautical applications has not reached full potential. Material specifications that control the wrought and finished material are needed. With this in mind, an ASTM task group (E08.05.10 – SMA for actuation), in association with the Consortium for the Advancement of Shape Memory Alloy Research and Technology (CASMART), is developing a Standard Specification for Wrought Nickel-Titanium Based Shape Memory Alloys for Actuation. The proposed specification addresses the mill product with recommendations and guidance for the chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal, and metallurgical requirements related to wrought NiTi-based systems used for actuation. Such guidance applies to NiTi based alloys in the binary, ternary, or higher elemental form in the bar, flat rolled products and tubes. This presentation will cover the draft material specification and provide an outlook for follow-on SMA material specifications for actuation.

Presenting Author: Dean Pick Kinitics Automation Limited

Presenting Author Biography: Dean Pick is the president of Kinitics Automation, a company based in Vancouver, BC that develops and manufactures motion control products based on SMA materials and the company’s proprietary Bundled Wire technology. Dean is a Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree from the University of Waterloo, and is the inventor of five granted patents in the fields of transmission control and shape memory alloys. He has worked extensively in the automotive, process control, and manufacturing industries.