Nitinol is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium with unique properties, including superelasticity or pseudoelasticity and “shape memory” properties. That means nitinol can remember its original shape and return to it when heated. It also shows great elasticity under stress.

How is nitinol manufactured?

Virtually all Nitinol components go through a similar series of basic manufacturing steps. To produce the basic material forms, such as wire, tubing, ribbon, sheet and bar, Nitinol materials are vacuum-melted, hot-worked, cold-worked and then heat-treated to achieve final properties.

Is nitinol hard making?

Nitinol is difficult to weld, both to itself and other materials. Laser welding nitinol to itself is a relatively routine process. More recently, strong joints between NiTi wires and stainless steel wires have been made using nickel filler.