Designation: F 2005 – 00

Standard Terminology for

Nickel-Titanium Shape Memory Alloys1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2005; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope
1.1 This terminology is a compilation of definitions of terms
used in ASTM documents relating to nickel-titanium shape
memory alloys used for medical devices. This terminology
includes only those terms for which ASTM either has standards
or which are used in ASTM standards for nickel-titanium shape
memory alloys. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of
terms related to shape memory alloys.
1.2 Definitions that are similar to those published by another
standards body are identified with abbreviations of the name of
that organization, for example, ICTAC is the International
Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry.
1.3 A definition is a single sentence with additional infor-
mation included in a discussion. This standard is reviewed
every five years, and the year of the last revision is appended.
2. Referenced Documents FIG. 1 DSC Graph for Single-Stage Transformation
2.1 ASTM Standards: mation is completed on heating in a two-stage transforma-
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography2 tion (Fig. 2).
E 473 Terminology Relating to Thermal Analysis3 austenite peak temperature (Ap), n—the temperature of the
endothermic peak position on the differential scanning
3. Terminology
calorimeter (DSC) curve upon heating for the martensite to
alloy phase, n—in a shape memory alloy, the crystal structure austenite transformation in a single-stage transformation
stable at a particular temperature and stress. (Fig. 1) or the temperature of the endothermic peak position
anneal, v—to heat treat in order to remove the effects of on the DSC curve upon heating for the R-phase to austenite
cold-working or aging heat treatments, or both. transformation in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
DISCUSSION—Annealing shall be at a minimum temperature of 800°C
austenite start temperature (As), n—the temperature at
for a minimum time of 15 min followed by rapid cooling by water which the martensite to austenite transformation begins on
quenching, gas quenching, or air cooling. heating in a single-stage transformation (Fig. 1) or the
temperature at which the R-phase to austenite transformation
austenite, n—the highest temperature phase in Ni-Ti shape begins on heating in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
memory alloys. differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), n—a device which
DISCUSSION—In Ni-Ti the high-temperature phase has the B2 body- is capable of heating a test specimen and a reference at a
centered cubic crystal structure. controlled rate and of automatically measuring the difference
austenite finish temperature (Af), n—the temperature at in heat flow between the specimen and the reference both to
which the martensite to austenite transformation is com- the required sensitivity and precision.
pleted on heating in a single-stage transformation (Fig. 1) or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), n—a technique in
the temperature at which the R-phase to austenite transfor- which the difference in heat flow into or out of a substance
and an inert reference is measured as a function of tempera-
ture while the substance and the reference material are
1
subjected to a controlled temperature program.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-4 on Medical
and Surgical Devices and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F04.12 on (E 473) (ICTAC) (1993)
Metallurgical Materials. martensite, n—the lowest temperature phase in Ni-Ti shape
Current edition approved Jan 10, 2000. Published April 2000.
2
memory alloys.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. DISCUSSION—In Ni-Ti the lowest temperature phase has the B19

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 F 2005
R-phase finish temperature (Rf), n—the temperature at
which the transformation from austenite to R-phase is
completed on cooling in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
R-phase peak temperature (Rp), n—the temperature of the
exothermic peak position on the DSC curve upon cooling for
the austenite to R-phase transformation (Fig. 2).

--``,,,,,`,,``````,`,,,,`,`,```-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
R-phase start temperature (Rs), n—the temperature at which
the transformation from austenite to R-phase begins on
cooling in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
R*-phase finish temperature (R*f), n—the temperature at
which the martensite to R-phase transformation is completed
on heating in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
R*-phase peak temperature (R*p), n—the temperature of the
endothermic peak position on the DSC curve upon heating,
for the martensite to R-phase transformation in a two-stage
transformation (Fig. 2).
FIG. 2 DSC Graph for a Two-Stage Transformation R*-phase start temperature (R*s), n—temperature at which
the martensite to R-phase transformation begins on heating
monoclinic crystal structure. in a two-stage transformation (Fig. 2).
martensite finish temperature (Mf), n—the temperature at shape memory alloy, n—a metal which, after an apparent
which the transformation from austenite to martensite is plastic deformation in the martensitic phase, undergoes a
completed on cooling in a single-stage transformation (Fig. thermoelastic change in crystal structure when heated
1) or the temperature at which the transformation from through its transformation temperature range resulting in a
R-phase to martensite is completed on cooling in a two-stage recovery of the deformation.
transformation (Fig. 2). superelasticity, n—nonlinear recoverable deformation behav-
martensite peak temperature (Mp), n—the temperature of ior of Ni-Ti shape memory alloys at temperatures above the
the exothermic peak position on the DSC curve upon cooling austenite finish temperature (Af).
for the austenite to martensite transformation (Fig. 1) or the DISCUSSION—The nonlinear deformation arises from the stress-
R-phase to martensite transformation (Fig. 2). induced formation of martensite on loading and the spontaneous
martensite start temperature (Ms), n—the temperature at reversion of this crystal structure to austenite upon unloading.
which the transformation from austenite to martensite begins thermoelastic martensitic transformation, n—a diffusion-
on cooling in a single-stage transformation (see Fig. 1) or the less thermally reversible phase change characterized by a
temperature at which the transformation from R-phase to change in crystal structure.
martensite begins on cooling in a two-stage transformation
(Fig. 2). DISCUSSION—This is a process in which an incremental change in
temperature produces a proportionate increase or decrease in the
Nitinol—a generic trade name for a Ni-Ti alloy.
amount of phase change.
pseudoelasticity, n—See superelasticity.
R-phase, n—the intermediate phase which forms from auste- transformation temperature range, n—in a shape memory
nite prior to martensite formation. alloy, the temperature range in which a change of phase
occurs. (E 7) (1988)
DISCUSSION—This occurs in Ni-Ti shape memory alloys under certain
conditions. The crystal lattice of the R-Phase is a rhombohedral
distortion of the cubic austenite crystal lattice structure, hence the name
“R-phase.”

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