ABOUT TiNi ALLOY COMPANY

TiNi Alloy Company is an established research and development organization.
The founder, A. David Johnson, a Ph.D. physicist, is a pioneer and leader in the technology and use of thin film shape memory alloys, with fundamental publications and patents. Microminiature actuators based on thin film shape memory alloy are an enabling technology for micro-electro- mechanical systems (MEMS), and a unique area of expertise.

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems products are the strength of the Company.
MEMS technology combining silicon microfabrication with shape-memory metals have resulted in micro-miniature valves and micro-switches that have applications in manufacturing and consumer products.  These devices are combined with sensors and electronics to make control systems, including a flow controller the size of a sugar cube.

TiNi Alloy Company is a Leader in Shape Memory Alloy Space Devices.
TiNi Alloy Company’s Frangibolt™, a shape memory alloy powered separation device, has become standard  flight qualified hardware for use on satellites.  The Frangibolt™ has been used by TRW, Lockheed - Martin, and the Naval Research Laboratory.   The company’s pinpuller flew on the Mars Global Explorer.  These devices have been licensed to and are being marketed by TiNi Aerospace, Inc., an independent corporation.

What’s ahead:
TiNi Alloy Company’s patented TiNi shape memory alloy thin film will enable new devices and new ways of working.  Here are some of the innovations we foresee: 

• Reduction of assembled devices to single chip devices including laboratory test equipment and flow controllers.  Single chip devices will be an order of magnitude cheaper than assembled devices.  This will multiply suitable applications and entirely change market size for a particular device.
• The addition of fundamental capabilities to MEMS fabrication techniques such as the ability to tilt all or part of a device out of the plane in which it was fabricated.  This has applications in flat panel display manufacture.
• TiNi thin film with enhanced performance.  Actuators are needed for high temperature environments.  TiNi Alloy Company is developing such actuators.
• Arrays of MEMS devices.  In some applications it is desirable to place as many devices (such as valves and pumps)  in a given volume.  TiNi Alloy Company has constructed small valve arrays for fluidic applications.
• Applications for superelastic TiNi thin film.  Superelastic TiNi thin film will be useful as a compliant element for electrical connections in MEMS devices, especially as connectors in multichip modules.  The damping characteristics of superelastic TiNi thin film can be used to stabilize micro-positioners. 

TiNi Alloy Company intends to be at the center of the MEMS revolution.
TiNi shape memory alloy thin film will power MEMS.

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