Effect of Chemical Surface Treatment on NiTi Alloy Adhesion for Using in Smart Metal/Polymer Bio-Composites

Recently, studies on the bonding strength improvement in NiTi / polymer matrix interface have been aggrandized due to increase of using the intelligent composites in industrial and biomedical appliances. Chemical treatment of the surface is one of the suggested methods that was studied about NiTi / Silicone composite in this research. Pull-out test results showed using acidic and alkaline solutions such as H2O2 and NaOH increases the bonding between the metal strips and the polymeric matrix. SEM micrographs and EDS analysis showed that Sodium titanate performed on the metal surface increases the bonding strength to 11%. Performing oxide layer on the alloy had the same effect and increased the amount of adhesion strength from 332.90 to 625.58 kPa.Increasing surface roughness and friction that was occurred after chemical treatment, can be used in manufacturing of artificial muscles.