Applicability of LPBF for producing Cu-11Al-5Ni-4Fe wt.% with shape memory properties

Abstract

The Cu-11Al-5Ni-4Fe wt% alloy was consolidated by additive manufacturing (AM) to determine the method applicability for producing shape memory alloy. The alloy was researched through compressive stress in three conditions: commercial (cast), as-built, and as-built heat treated (quenched). The results demonstrated that the as-built sample acquired a reasonable superelasticity at room temperature (~4%), which was improved to 6% after quenching. The commercial sample damping capacity was better at high temperatures (350 °C) due to slip system activation at low stress (near 600 MPa), which resulted in a higher deformation energy dissipation. Due to the residual stress and null slip activation, the as-built samples showed low damping capacity and low permanent strain at any temperature; however, they showed greater degree of superelasticity. The AM technique of laser powder bed fabrication is concluded to be a viable option for producing printed parts with superelasticity and damping properties.

Focus on 4D materials design and additive manufacturing

“…Guerra et al [5] demonstrated the applicability of Cu-11Al-5Ni-4Fe wt% for producing shape memory alloy by additive manufacturing. Compressive stress testing was performed on the alloy in three different states: as-built (AB), heat treated (AB), and commercial (COM) (cast) (quenched).…”