NiTi-5at.%Cu wires were strained up to various strain levels at various temperatures with the aim to gather data required for the optimization of the curing treatment of the shape memory hybrid composites. The prestrained NiTiCu wires may potentially be exposed to curing temperatures as high as 413 K. (C) 2002 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.