Ti-Ni Shape Memory Alloy by Magnetically Controlled Electroslag Melting

A new technology of Magnetically-controlled Electroslag Melting (MEM) of titanium alloys is introduced. The main distinguishing feature of the MEM process is the electromagnetic effect on the liquid metal pool, which makes it possible to obtain alloys with high chemical homogeneity of the metal and a fine-grained structure. The results of chemical analysis and structure of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy obtained by the MEM method are presented. It has been established that ingots of Ti-55Ni alloy (wt.%) of MEM technology are characterized by high quality of side surface formation, absence of metallurgical defects with a high level of chemical and structural homogeneity. From the resulting ingots, plates with a thickness of 0.5...15 mm and wire with a diameter of 0.3...1.2 mm were made. Studies of the functional properties of the wire showed a pronounced shape memory effect.