Abstract: The self-healing abrasion behavior of super-elastic nitinol was comparatively investigated using quenched AISI-1045 steel sample as a control. The worn surface morphologies of the steel and the Ni-Ti alloy were observed on a scanning electron microscope, the temperature on the sliding surfaces was measured with a thermocouple, and the factors affecting the abrasion behavior of the alloy were discussed. It was found that the shape memory effect of the nitinol contributed to increase its abrasion resistance which was much superior to that of the AISI-1045 steel. Thus the abrasion resistance of the shape-memory alloy was not mainly determined by its lower hardness but by its excellent shape-recovering ability. The differences in the morphologies of the worn surfaces of the steel and the shape-memory alloy conformed to their different abrasion resistance as well. It was thus suggested the shape-memory alloy of super-elasticity could be used to develop the frictional devices subject to short-journey sliding, such as clutch and braking disc.