Additive Manufacturing of Shape Memory Alloys: Microstructure and Functional Performance

Webinar 7

SPEAKER I

Jose M. San Juan (University of the Basque Country, Spain)

Microstructure and Functional Properties of Cu-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloys Processed by LPBF Technique

 

Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) offers new processing capabilities for shape memory alloys (SMA) and is already being applied to NiTi-based SMAs. Recently, Cu-based SMAs are also attracting the attention because of some advantages over NiTi SMAs for high-temperature applications. However, AM of Cu-based SMAs constitutes a challenge due to the inherent processing difficulties associated with its high thermal conductivity and the microstructure required to obtain good functional properties. In this presentation, I will overview some recent works in which powders of Cu-Al-Ni SMA were processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The processing parameters were optimized and the microstructure and the mechanical and functional properties of shape memory and superelasticity are comparatively analyzed. An outstanding 2.7 % fully recoverable superelastic strain, and ±4% shape memory recovery was obtained by LPBF. These results are compared with the ones obtained in samples, produced with the same powders, by the classical powder metallurgy route.

 

Related publications:

  • M. Pérez-Cerrato, I. Fraile, J.F. Gómez-Cortés, E. Urionabarrenetxea, I. Ruiz-Larrea, I. González, M.L. Nó, N. Burgos, J.M. San Juan. Designing for Shape Memory in Additive Manufacturing of Cu-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloy Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion. Materials 15 (2022) 6284.
  • M. Pérez-Cerrato, J.F. Gómez-Cortés, E. Urionabarrenetxea, I. Ruiz-Larrea, I. Ayesta, M.L. Nó, N. Burgos, J.M. San Juan. Optimizing the laser powder bed fusion processing parameters of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys: Microstructure and functional properties relationship. Virtual & Physical Prototyping (2025) Accepted, in press.

SPEAKER II

Muzi Li (IMDEA Materials Institute, Madrid, Spain)

The microstructure and mechanical properties of nitinol manufactured by LPBF: differences between Ni-rich and Ti-rich compositions

 

Abstract: The utilization of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for nitinol alloys has garnered significant interest, owing to its capability to achieve a 4D response through the shape memory (SME) and superelastic (SE) effects. In this work, Ti-rich and Ni-rich nitinol parts have been additively manufactured by LPBF on Ti substrates to study their microstructure and mechanical response and their corresponding shape memory and superelastic effects. Various processing parameters were studied, including the use of post-printing heat treatments. Significant differences in printability were found between Ti-rich and Ni-rich nitinol. Generally speaking, Ti-rich nitinol showed a better printability and the manufactured parts offered a significant SME, independent of processing parameters and thermo-mechanical history. On the contrary, the printability of Ni-rich nitinol was seriously compromised by severe warping effects, and although the SE could be found for all conditions, the extent of SE was very dependent on thermo-mechanical history.

 

Related publications:

  • Díaz Lantada, A., Vega, C., Zapata Martínez, R., Rendón, M., Li, M., Contreras-Almengor, Ó., Ordoño, J., Solórzano-Requejo, W., Vasic, M., Manuel Munoz-Guijosa, J. and Molina-Aldareguia, J. (2024). Additive Manufacturing of Nitinol for Smart Personalized Medical Devices: Current Capabilities and Challenges. In Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies – BIODEVICES.