Rapid solidification and advanced manufacturing of Cu-based shape memory alloys with complex geometries

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In this project, multicomponent Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) shall be processed by the relatively new technique of selective laser melting, which is expected to result in components with advanced mechanical properties. The alloy powder required for this manufacturing process is synthesised by spray forming. The goals of this project are to study the influence of two rapid solidification methods (spray forming and SLM) on the microstructure and the shape memory effect of two Cu-based SMAs, viz. Cu-11.85Al-3.2Ni-3Mn and Cu-11.35Al-3.2Ni-3Mn-0.5Zr. The mechanical properties shall be analysed with focus on the interrelation between the microstructure (e.g. phase formation, grain sizes, second phase precipitates etc.) and the details of the martensitic transformation (i.e. shape recovery, superelasticity, strength etc.). Moreover, it shall be evaluated whether or not SLM is a competitive costefficient alternative for manufacturing products like stents or actuators/sensors of shape memory alloys with advanced mechanical properties. Considering that high cooling rates can be reached by this method, the influence of rapid solidification on phase formation and grain size, mechanical properties and shape memory effect of Cu-based shape memory alloys will be studied.