Altered microstructure, phase transformation behaviors and shape memory response of CuAlMn shape memory alloys fabricated by selective laser melting

Abstract

In this paper, nearly defect-free CuAlMn SMAs were successfully fabricated by selected laser melting (SLM). The result of microstructure show that only one type of thermal-induced martensite was detected in the prepared specimens, and the process parameters play a vital role in phase transformation behaviors. The alloy shows excellent ultimate tensile strength of 820 MPa and elongation of 11.5 %. Furthermore, the high shape memory response, i.e. shape recovery rate of 91.4 %–99.6 %, shape memory strain of 2.59 %–5.46 %, was presented under compressive strain not exceeding 8 %.