Abstract

The motivation for fabricating sputter-deposited TiNi base shape memory alloy (SMA) thin films originates from the great demand for the development of powerful microactuators, because actuation output (force and displacement) per unit volume of thin film SMA exceeds those of other microactuation mechanisms. Stable shape memory effect and superelasticity, which are equivalent to those of bulk alloys, have been achieved in sputter-deposited TiNi thin films. Narrow transformation temperature hysteresis and high transformation temperatures were also achieved in TiNiCu and TiNi (Pd or Hf) thin films, respectively. In the meantime, unique microstructures consisting of non-equilibrium compositions and nanoscale precipitates in the matrix have been found in Ti-rich TiNi thin films which were fabricated from an amorphous condition by annealing at a very low temperature. Several micromachining processes have been proposed to fabricate the prototypes of microactuators utilizing TiNi thin films. This chapter will review the recent development of the above-mentioned topics relating to sputter-deposited TiNi based thin films. Some critical issues and problems in the development of TiNi thin films are discussed, including preparation and characterization considerations, residual stress and adhesion, frequency improvement, fatigue and stability, and thermomechanical modeling. Recent development in the microdevices based on SMA thin films is also summarized.

Introduction

A shape memory alloy (SMA) is a metal that can “remember” its geometry, i.e., after a piece of SMA has been deformed from its original shape, it regains its original geometry by itself during heating (shape memory effect) or simply during unloading at a higher ambient temperature (superelasticity).