A Low Hysteresis NiTiFe Shape Memory Alloy Based Thermal Conduction Switch
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816 (United States)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899 (United States)
Shape memory alloys possess the ability to return to a preset shape by undergoing a solid state phase transformation at a particular temperature. This work reports on the development and testing of a low temperature thermal conduction switch that incorporates a NiTiFe shape memory element for actuation. The switch was developed to provide a variable conductive pathway between liquid methane and liquid oxygen dewars in order to passively regulate the temperature of methane. The shape memory element in the switch undergoes a rhombohedral or R-phase transformation that is associated with a small hysteresis (typically 1-2 deg. C) and offers the advantage of precision control over a set temperature range. For the NiTiFe alloy used, its thermomechanical processing, subsequent characterization using dilatometry, differential scanning calorimetry and implementation in the conduction switch configuration are addressed.
- OSTI ID:
- 20800180
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 824, Issue 1; Conference: Cryogenic engineering conference, Keystone, CO (United States), 29 Aug - 2 Sep 2005; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2192327; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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