PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible heating element and its manufacturing method capable of easily satisfying both of a folding property when it is not used, and a shape restoring property when it is used by using a heating element with stable electric resistance in a length direction.SOLUTION: The flexible heating element is formed by arranging a shape memory alloy wire, which is subjected to shape memory treatment in a predetermined shape, in a base material 2. The shape memory alloy wire in the base material is transformed from an austenitic phase to a martensite phase when the flexible heating element is not used, and the flexible heating element is folded in a state that a longitudinal elastic coefficient is reduced than a value when it is used. When the flexible heating element is used, the shape memory alloy wire in the base material is heated to a temperature higher than a reverse transformation completion temperature by Joule heat, and plastic deformation by folding given in the martensite phase is eliminated when the alloy wire is transformed into the austenitic phase to return to an original shape. The flexible heating element is manufactured by arranging the shape memory alloy wire after the shape memory treatment in the base material having an electronic insulation property after the shape memory treatment by heating to a shape memory treatment temperature in a state that the shape memory alloy wire is maintained in a predetermined shape.COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT【課題】長さ方向に電気抵抗が安定している発熱線を用い、不使用時の折り畳み性と使用時の形状復元性の両方を容易に満足させ得る可撓性発熱体及びその製造方法を提供することを目的とする。【解決手段】所定の形状に形状記憶処理した形状記憶合金線を基材中に配置してなり、不使用時に基材中の形状記憶合金線がオーステナイト相からマルテンサイト相に変態することでその縦弾性係数が使用時の値よりも小さくなった状態で折り畳みし、使用時に基材中の形状記憶合金線がジュール熱で逆変態完了温度以上にまで加熱され、マルテンサイト相で与えられていた折り畳みによる塑性変形がオーステナイト相へと変態する際に除かれ、元の形状に戻る可撓性発熱体及びその製造方法。【選択図】図1
