Effects of additions of small amounts of fourth elements on structure, crystal structure and shape recovery of CuZnAl shape memory alloys

Abstract

Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) are particularly interesting, compared to Ni-Ti SMAs because of their low cost and relatively ease process. However, there are important problems to be solved, such as intergranular fracture due to large grain size, stabilization of martensite, etc. In the present work, the influences of additions only less than 1 mass% of several fourth elements, such as Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Y, to two kinds of Cu-Zn-Al SMAs, i.e., Cu-30Zn-4Al and Cu-25Zn-7Al on their structure, crystal structure and shape recovery have been examined in order to know what elements are the most effective for the thermal stability of the parent and martensite phases and the shape memory capacity.