Surface treatment of shape memory alloys
AssigneesUniversity of Dundee, The University of Nottingham
InventorsJohn Vivian Wood, David Malcolm Grant, Sarah Margaret Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of treatment of a shape memory alloy involves shot peening of the alloy sample, thereby causing a crystal to amorphous transition of a surface layer of the sample without substantially affecting bulk characteristics of the material, particularly its shape memory behavior and biocompatibility. The method may be used for surface hardening and to reduce coefficients of friction. The method may be advantageously used for treating tissue sutures and orthodontic devices such as dental archwires.
Claims13
A method of surface treating a shape memory alloy comprising shot peening a sample of the alloy to be treated to cause a crystal to amorphous transition of a surface layer of the alloy without substantially affecting shape memory behavior of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.