LAUSR

Abstract The manuscript presents experimental investigations of an unusual behaviour of shape memory alloys (NiTi) having different characteristic temperatures in wear test. The studies are focused on the different wear mechanism at varying loads and sliding times and include a description of the phenomena accompanying the wear process. The ball-on-plate reciprocating sliding wear tests were conducted on NiTi shape memory alloys against a sapphire ball. We show that the wear resistance of NiTi is affected by its specific stress-strain characteristic. The understanding of the tribological behaviour of NiTi, a knowledge of the course of wear and an examination of its mechanisms can enable an effective prevention of the destruction of devices components and prolong their safe working life.