Processing and Characterization of Cu-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloy Strips Prepared from Elemental Powders <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> a Novel Powder Metallurgy Route

In the present work, Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy strips were prepared successfully from premixed elemental Cu, Al, and Ni powders in the ratio 82:14:4 (wt pct) by a novel processing route consisting of preparing powder preforms, sintering, and unsheathed hot rolling of the sintered preforms. Subsequently, the hot rolled strips were homogenized. The as-rolled strips consisted of two phases—α and β′. A postconsolidation homogenization of the hot rolled strips was carried out at 1173 K (900 °C) for different time periods. It has been shown that a homogenization period of 4 hours was sufficient to achieve a single-phase material consisting of only martensitic phase. It also has been shown that the 4-hour homogenized and quenched Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy strips primarily consisted of self-accommodated β′ martensite plates, which are necessary for realizing shape memory effect (SME). The finished hot rolled Cu-Al-Ni strips had a fracture strength of 476 MPa, coupled with 2.5 pct elongation. The shape memory tests showed almost 100 pct recovery after 10 thermomechanical cycles in the hot rolled strips at 1 pct and 2 pct prestrain level.