Architectured Ni-Ti Materials – ANiM

This project aims to develop a new category of innovative materials combining the intrinsic and novel properties of Nickel-Titanium shape memory alloys with purposely engineered topologies allowed by the notion of “architectured materials”.

More specifically, we aim to create architectured materials constituted of NiTi wires and tubes. Using fibres cut from thin wires, we will create non-woven random 2D textiles, 3D blocks of low solid densities, and more complex designed architectures. With thin-wall tubes we will create regular cellular materials. These design concepts are innovative and novel.

To realise these unique structures we apply a range of innovative materials processing techniques, such as plasma sintering, electric resistance welding, diffusion brazing, and silicone elastomer infiltration.

Owing to the versatility of their structures, these materials offer a range of novel properties that have not been available to date. Combining the unique strength of the material architectures and the novel properties of NiTi, this new category of “smart” materials is expected to have a strong impact in the existing shape memory alloy industry, by drastically enhancing their design capability and competitiveness.