Phase Formation, Thermal Stability and Mechanical Properties of a Cu-Al-Ni-Mn Shape Memory Alloy Prepared by Selective Laser Melting

• Main Author: Gargarella,Piter
• Publication Date: 2015
• Other Authors: Kiminami,Cláudio Shyinti, Mazzer,Eric Marchezini, Cava,Régis Daniel, Basilio,Leonardo Albuquerque, Bolfarini,Claudemiro, Botta,Walter José, Eckert,Jürgen, Gustmann,Tobias, Pauly,Simon
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Materials research (São Carlos. Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392015000800035
• topic: selective laser melting; shape memory alloys; Cu-based alloys; additive manufacturing

Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing process used to produce parts with complex geometries layer by layer. This rapid solidification method allows fabricating samples in a non-equilibrium state and with refined microstructure. In this work, this method is used to fabricate 3 mm diameter rods of a Cu-based shape memory alloy. The phase formation, thermal stability and mechanical properties were investigated and correlated. Samples with a relative density higher than 92% and without cracks were obtained. A single monoclinic martensitic phase was formed with average grain size ranging between 28 to 36 μm. The samples exhibit a reverse martensitic transformation temperature around 106 ± 2 °C and a large plasticity in compression (around 15±1%) with a typical “double-yielding” behaviour.