ACTA

Development of Micromechanical Device on the Base of Two-Way Shape Memory Alloy Ribbon

A. Shelyakov^a, N. Sitnikov^{a, b}, A. Menushenkov^a, V. Fominski^a
^aNational Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Kashirskoe shosse 31, Moscow 115409, Russian Federation
^bFederal State Unitary Enterprise ``Keldysh Research Center'', Onezhskaya St. 8, Moscow 125438, Russian Federation

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The aim of the present work is to fabricate and to research microgrippers (microtweezers) on the basis of the two-way shape memory effect. Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloy (at.%) produced by melt-spinning technique in the form of layered amorphous-crystalline ribbons at around 40 μm of thickness was used as the base material. The obtained structural composites were capable of executing reversible bending deformations in a heating/cooling cycle. A series of microtweezers with the gap adjustable in the range from 5 to 120 μm was fabricated. The width of the gripping parts composed was 400-500 μm and their length was from 650 to 1300 μm depending on the gap value. Optical and scanning electron microscopes were used to monitor the operation of the tweezers. It has been revealed that the response speed of the microgrippers essentially depends on the control temperature mode. The optimum control parameters provide the response time about 1 s by the operation both in the environment and in vacuum. The complete process of manipulating (gripping-holding-moving-releasing) the carbon fibers at the diameter 10 to 20 μm with using the fabricated device was demonstrated.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.134.708
PACS numbers: 64.70.kd, 81.40.Ef, 81.30.Kf, 65.40.De, 85.85.+j