AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCES (ATD AND DSC) IN SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS STUDIES

We describe an experimental set-up of high resolution thermal analysis (HRTA) activated by Peltier effect and computer-controlled by the signal processing that allows a high resolution programming of the temperature and a reproducibility better than +/- 0.01 deg. The basic equipment is suitable for studying the behaviour of the shape memory alloys (i.e. Cu based alloys). We also describe the applications of the system, which allows to build up a calorimetric system (heat flux or conduction calorimetry) (resolution 1.5-mu-W) or a stress-strain-temperature system of 20 N of maximum charge (resolution around 1 mN and 0.1-mu-m.