Recoverable Strain Research Articles

Additive Manufacturing of Ni–Ti SMA by the Sinter-Based MoldJet Method

Abstract Additive Manufacturing (AM) of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA), and specifically Ni–Ti alloys, is an evolving field with significant potential to applications in actuation, energy harvesting, and refrigeration. Sinter-based AM technologies show promise in tailoring and controlling the microstructure and properties of Ni–Ti, because the metal particles remain in the solid-state throughout the process. Here, we report on the manufacturing and characterization of Ni–Ti produced using a novel sinter-based MoldJet method: a wax-based mold is deposited layer-by-layer using jet-printing, and its cavities are simultaneously filled with metallic paste. This additive process produces a green body that is sintered to form a dense metal part. The low content of organic binder in the metallic paste results in reduced carbon and oxygen contamination compared to other sinter-based AM methods. Consequently, the reduced formation of carbides and oxides enhances the thermomechanical properties. Here, we show that Ni–Ti produced via MoldJet exhibits a superelastic response with a substantial recoverable strain of 5.6% in tension and 4.5% in compression, and irrecoverable plastic strain below 0.2%. The results indicate that MoldJet is a promising method for AM of Ni–Ti for advanced applications. Specifically, we show that the obtained material properties are adequate for elastocaloric cooling devices.

Microstructure and Thermal Cyclic Behavior of FeNiCoAlTaB High-Entropy Alloy.

This study investigates the grain morphology, microstructure, magnetic properties and shape memory properties of an Fe41.265Ni28.2Co17Al11Ta2.5B0.04 (at%) high-entropy alloy (HEA) cold-rolled to 98%. The EBSD results show that the texture intensities of the samples annealed at 1300 °C for 0.5 or 1 h are 2.45 and 2.82, respectively. This indicates that both samples were formed without any strong texture. The grain morphology results show that the grain size increased from 356.8 to 504.6 μm when the annealing time was increased from 0.5 to 1 h. The large grain size improved the recoverable strain due to a reduction in the grain constraint. As a result, annealing was carried out at 1300 °C/1 h for the remainder of the study. The hardness decreased at 24 h, then increased again at 48 h; this phenomenon was related to the austenite finish temperature. Thermo-magnetic analysis revealed that the austenite finish temperature increased when the samples were aged at 600 °C for between 12 and 24 h. When the aging time was prolonged to 48 h, the austenite finish temperature value decreased. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the peak of the precipitates emerged and intensified when the aging time was increased from 12 to 24 h at 600 °C. From the three-point bending shape memory test, the samples aged at 600 °C for 12 and 24 h had maximum recoverable strains of 2% and 3.6%, respectively. The stress-temperature slopes of the austenite finish temperature were 10.3 MPa/°C for 12 h and 6 MPa/°C for 24 h, respectively. Higher slope values correspond to lower recoverable strains.

Experimental study on compression mechanical properties of functionally graded shape memory alloys

Functionally graded shape memory alloy (FG-SMA) hold considerable promise for diverse applications in aerospace and micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) fields, owing to their elevated ceramic hardness and distinctive phase transition characteristics. To investigate the mechanical properties and phase transition behaviors of FG-SMA, an FG-SMA specimen was fabricated for the first time using the spark plasma sintering and ball-mill mixing method. Subsequently, microstructure, phase transformation, hardness, compression fracture and shape memory effect testing experiments were carried out. The results revealed a microstructure of the FG-SMA without noticeable pores in the alumina content range of 0.1% to 0.6%. Alumina particles were effectively integrated into the NiTi matrix, enhancing the FG-SMA’s compressive strength. Varied alumina gradients in the FG-SMA cross-section led to distinct phase transitions. The addition of alumina increased the hardness of the NiTi matrix, resulting in higher fracture stress and strain in the FG-SMA. The elastic recovery strain of FG-SMA augmented with increasing alumina content, although the recoverable strain associated with the shape memory effect gradually decreased. This study provides valuable insights for the preparation, optimization, and practical applications of FG-SMAs. At the same time, the research in this article can lay an experimental foundation for the application of FG-SMA in the field of aerospace and MEMS.

Linking structural and rheological memory in disordered soft materials.

Linking the macroscopic flow properties and nanoscopic structure is a fundamental challenge to understanding, predicting, and designing disordered soft materials. Under small stresses, these materials are soft solids, while larger loads can lead to yielding and the acquisition of plastic strain, which adds complexity to the task. In this work, we connect the transient structure and rheological memory of a colloidal gel under cyclic shearing across a range of amplitudes via a generalized memory function using rheo-X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (rheo-XPCS). Our rheo-XPCS data show that the nanometer scale aggregate-level structure recorrelates whenever the change in recoverable strain over some interval is zero. The macroscopic recoverable strain is therefore a measure of the nano-scale structural memory. We further show that yielding in disordered colloidal materials is strongly heterogeneous and that memories of prior deformation can exist even after the material has been subjected to flow.

Achieving the higher strength, larger recoverable strain and elastocaloric effect in Ni-Ti based high entropy shape memory alloy

Achieving the higher strength, larger recoverable strain and elastocaloric effect in Ni-Ti based high entropy shape memory alloy

Optimal sandwich panel's core design for an enhanced impact resistance.

Despite the extensive literature revealing various core structures that can enhance the impact resistance of composite panels, a comparative study illustrating the difference in performance of the various cores under same loading conditions is missing. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal core structure and design in terms of energy absorption under low-velocity impact using both numerical simulations and experimental testing for validation. Response surface analysis was used to design the experiments and analyse the panel's behaviour. A total of 160 numerical simulations were conducted by varying the core shape, density, number of layers and panel's thickness. Drop tower tests were performed to experimentally validate the results. Additive manufacturing was used to 3D print the tested structures which simplified the manufacturing process. Results provided insights on time to perforation, stiffness of the panels showcasing an inverse relationship between recoverable strain energy and equivalent plastic strain. The number of layers within the panels were identified as a pivotal factor in the energy distribution and tendency for localized plastic deformation to occur. Both numerical and experimental results revealed the superior energy absorption capabilities of the X-frame core shaped structure. Regression models developed shed light on the relationships between core height, volume fraction, number of layers, and core topology revealing the extent of damage. Multi-objective optimization was used to yield optimal configuration for sandwich panels with highest impact resistance.

Ultra-Stiff yet Super-Elastic Graphene Aerogels by Topological Cellular Hierarchy.

Lightweight cellular materials with high stiffness and excellent recoverability are critically important in structural engineering applications, but the intrinsic conflict between these two properties presents a significant challenge. Here, a topological cellular hierarchy is presented, designed to fabricate ultra-stiff (>10 MPa modulus) yet super-elastic (>90% recoverable strain) graphene aerogels. This topological cellular hierarchy, composed of massive corrugated pores and nanowalls, is designed to carry high loads through predominantly reversible buckling within the honeycomb framework. The compressive modulus of the as-prepared graphene aerogel is nearly twice that of conventional graphene aerogel. This high-stiff graphene aerogel also exhibits exceptional mechanical recoverability, achieving up to 60% strain recovery over 10000 fatigue cycles without significant structural failure, outperforming most previously reported porous lattices and monoliths. It is further demonstrated that this graphene aerogel exhibits superior energy dissipation and anti-fatigue dynamic impact properties, with an energy absorption capacity nearly an order of magnitude greater than that of conventional aerogels. These exceptional properties of the topological cellular graphene aerogel open new avenues for high-energy bullet protection, offering great promise for the development of lightweight, armor-like protective materials in transportation and aerospace applications.

Modeling martensitic transformation temperatures in Zirconia–Ceria solid solutions using machine learning interatomic potentials

Abstract Shape memory ceramics (SMCs), while exhibiting high strength, sizeable recoverable strain, and substantial energy damping, tend to shatter under load and have low reversibility. Recent developments in SMCs have shown significant promise in enhancing the reversibility of the shape memory phase transformation by tuning the lattice parameters and transformation temperatures through alloying. While first-principles methods, such as density functional theory (DFT), can predict the lattice parameters and enthalpy at zero Kelvin, calculating the transformation temperature from free energy at high temperatures is impractical. Empirical potentials can calculate transformation temperatures efficiently for large system sizes but lack compositional transferability. In this work, we develop a model to predict transformation temperatures and lattice parameters for the Zirconia–Ceria solid solutions. We construct a machine learning inter-atomic potential (MLIAP) using an initial dataset of DFT simulations, which is then iteratively expanded using active learning. We utilize reversible scaling to compute the free energy as a function of composition and temperature, from which the transformation temperatures are determined. These transformation temperatures match experimental trends and accurately predict the phase boundary. Finally, we compare other relevant design parameters (e.g. transformation volume change) to demonstrate the applicability of MLIAPs in designing SMCs.

Damage accumulation in carbon steel under low-cycle loading at the crack initiation stage and strain ageing temperature

Damage accumulation in carbon steel under low-cycle loading at the crack initiation stage and strain ageing temperature

Crossover strain glass alloy exhibiting large recoverable strain over a wide temperature range

Crossover strain glass alloy exhibiting large recoverable strain over a wide temperature range

Tailoring β-Ti based shape memory alloy with the exceptional mechanical and functional properties towards biomedical bone implants application

Tailoring β-Ti based shape memory alloy with the exceptional mechanical and functional properties towards biomedical bone implants application

Thermal Cycling Behavior of Aged FeNiCoAlTiNb Cold-Rolled Shape Memory Alloys.

Fe-Ni-Co-Al-based systems have attracted a lot of interest due to their large recoverable strain. In this study, the microstructure and thermal cycling behaviors of Fe41Ni28Co17Al11.5Ti1.25Nb1.25 (at.%) 98.5% cold-rolled alloys after annealing treatment at 1277 °C for 1 h, followed by aging for 48 h at 600 °C, were investigated. From the electron backscatter diffraction results, we see that the texture intensity increased from 9.4 to 16.5 mud and the average grain size increased from 300 to 400 μm as the annealing time increased from 0.5 h to 1 h. The hardness results for different aging heat treatment conditions show the maximum value was reached for samples aged at 600 °C for 48 h (peak aging condition). The orientation distribution functions (ODFs) displayed by Goss, brass, and copper were the main textural features in the FeNiCoAlTiNb cold-rolled alloy. After annealing, strong Goss and brass textures were formed. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that the precipitate size was ~10 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show a strong peak in the (111) and (200) planes of the austenite (⁠⁠γ, FCC) structure for the annealed sample. After aging, a new peak in the (111) plane of the precipitate (⁠⁠γ', L12) structure emerged, and the peak intensity of austenite (⁠⁠γ, FCC) decreased. The magnetization-temperature curves of the aged sample show that both the magnetization and transformation temperature increased with the increasing magnetic fields. The shape memory properties show a fully recoverable strain of up to 2% at 400 MPa stress produced in the three-point bending test. However, the experimental recoverable strain values were lower than the theoretical values, possibly due to the fact that the volume fraction of the low-angle grain boundary (LABs) was small compared to the reported values (60%), and it was insufficient to suppress the beta phases. The beta phases made the grain boundaries brittle and deteriorated the ductility. On the fracture surface of samples after the three-point bending test, the fracture spread along the grain boundary, and the cross-section microstructural results show that the faces of the grain boundary were smooth, indicating that the grain boundary was brittle with an intergranular fracture.

Ultrahigh Elastic Energy Storage in Nanocrystalline Alloys with Martensite Nanodomains.

Elastic materials that store and release elastic energy play pivotal roles in both macro and micro mechanical systems. Uniting high elastic energy density and efficiency is crucial for emerging technologies such as artificial muscles, hopping robots, and unmanned aerial vehicle catapults, yet it remains a significant challenge. Here, a nanocrystalline structure embedded with elliptical martensite nanodomains in ferroelastic alloys wasutilized to enable high yield strength, large recoverable strain, and low energy dissipation simultaneously. As a result, the designed Ti-Ni-V alloys demonstrate ultrahigh energy density (>40 MJ m-3) with ultrahigh efficiency (>93%) and exceptional durability. This concept, which combines nano-sized embryos to minimize energy dissipation of psuedo-elasticity and employs a fine-grained structure to enhance yield strength, can be applied to other ferroelastic materials. Furthermore, it holds promise for the development of phase transformation-involved functionalities such as high-performance dielectric energy storage, ultralow-hysteresis magnetostrain, and high-efficiency solid-state caloriccooling.

Preparation and Characterization of Ni-Mn-Ga-Cu Shape Memory Alloy with Micron-Scale Pores

Porous Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys (SMAs) were prepared by powder metallurgy using NaCl as a pore-forming agent with an average pore size of 20–30 μm. The microstructure, phase transformation, superelasticity, and elastocaloric properties of the porous alloys were investigated. The prepared porous alloy had a uniform pore distribution and interconnected microchannels were formed. Cu doping can effectively improve the toughness of a porous alloy, thus improving the superelasticity. It was found that porous Ni-Mn-Ga-Cu SMAs have a flat stress plateau, which exhibits a maximum elongation of 5% with partially recoverable strain and a critical stress for martensite transformation as low as about 160 MPa. In addition, an adiabatic temperature change of 0.6 K was obtained for the prepared porous alloy at a strain of 1.2% at about 150 MPa. This work confirms that the introduction of porous structures into polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Ga SMAs is an effective way to reduce costs and improve performance, and provides opportunities for engineering applications.

Martensitic transformation induced by cooling NiTi wire under various tensile stresses: Martensite variant microstructures, textures, recoverable strains and plastic strains

Martensitic transformation induced by cooling NiTi wire under various tensile stresses: Martensite variant microstructures, textures, recoverable strains and plastic strains

Investigating the Shape Memory Effect and Corrosion Resistance of the Fe-(17-2x) Mn-6Si-xNi-yCr-0.3C Alloys (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4; y = 0, 1, 3, 5)

In this study, low Mn content Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloys [Fe-(17-2x) Mn-6Si-xNi-yCr-0.3C (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4; y = 0, 1, 3, 5)] were prepared via vacuum arc remelting. The alloys were hot-rolled and solid-solution-treated at 1150 °C for 1 h followed by aging at elevated temperatures. The effects of Cr and Ni addition on the shape memory performance and corrosion resistance of the alloys in 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions were investigated using bending test and potentiodynamic polarization, respectively. It was revealed that the recoverable strain of the alloys remains larger than 2% when 1Ni is replaced with 2Mn and Cr is added. However, it becomes less than 2% in 11Mn and 9Mn alloys because of the easy formation of the α’ martensite. The shape memory effect of alloys is highly improved due to the precipitation of fine carbides in the grains by the addition of Cr and after aging treatment at elevated temperatures (≧700 °C). The highest shape recovery ratios of 88.3% for 17Mn0Ni3Cr, 94.0% for 15Mn1Ni3Cr, 94.4% for 13Mn2Ni5Cr, 88.1% for 11Mn3Ni5Cr, and 86.8% for 9Mn4Ni7Cr, respectively, were achieved after 800 °C aging treatment. The strip-like second phase (carbides) forms at the grain boundaries in the Cr-free alloys after 600 °C aging treatment. There are lots of fine carbides (M23C6 and M7C3) precipitated in the interior of the grains at the aging treatments ≧ 700 °C. However, M7C3 is eliminated at 900 °C aging treatment. The corrosion resistance results showed that the corrosion resistance of the alloys is improved by adding Cr. The maximum corrosion potentials (−0.474 V) have been observed for 13Mn2Ni5Cr, and similar mechanisms have been analyzed in all series of alloys.

NiTi alloy helical lattice structure with high reusable energy absorption and enhanced damage tolerance

NiTi alloy helical lattice structure with high reusable energy absorption and enhanced damage tolerance

Regulation of microstructure, phase transformation behavior, and enhanced high superelastic cycling stability in laser direct energy deposition NiTi shape memory alloys via aging treatment

Regulation of microstructure, phase transformation behavior, and enhanced high superelastic cycling stability in laser direct energy deposition NiTi shape memory alloys via aging treatment

Stress-induced martensite reorientation and its related performances in trained β-Ti based shape memory alloy

Stress-induced martensite reorientation and its related performances in trained β-Ti based shape memory alloy

Exploration microstructural evolution and wear mechanisms of wire arc additive manufacturing NiTi/Nb bionic composite materials

Exploration microstructural evolution and wear mechanisms of wire arc additive manufacturing NiTi/Nb bionic composite materials