Shape Memory Effect Characteristics of a VT22I Alloy

The effect of the temperature of heating for quenching on the thermomechanical characteristics of the shape memory effect of a titanium VT22I structural alloy is studied. It is shown that, after deformation to 10-15%, the shape of a sample is partly recovered upon subsequent heating to 200-300 degrees C, and the recovered torsional strain is maximal (5%) after quenching from a beta-field temperature. If the recovery of the shape of a deformed sample is constrained, reactive stresses appear in it and the sample does a shape recovery work up to 0.6 MJ/m(3). As compared to TN1 nitinol, the thermomechanical characteristics of the VT22I alloy are approximately two times lower; nevertheless, they can be effectively used in some types of functional constructions (e.g., in couplings for assembling pipelines).