Towards direct metal laser fabrication of Cu-based shape memory alloys
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of producing Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMA) by means of direct metal laser fabrication (DMLF).
Design/methodology/approach
The fabrication approach consists of the combination of laser melting of a metallic powder with heating treatment in a controlled inert atmosphere. Three prospective Cu-Al-Ni alloy compositions were tested, and the effects of laser power, as well as laser exposure time, were verified.
Findings
All the processed materials were found to attain microstructures and phase change transformation temperatures typical of this type of SMA.
Practical implications
Further development of this technique will allow for fabrication of large elements with considerable shape memory effect, which are currently not viable due to high cost of nitinol.
Originality/value
This work showed a proof of concept toward the development of DMLF-based additive manufacturing of near net shape components of Cu-based SMAs from elemental powders.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by the Chilean Council of Research and Technology (CONICYT), FONDECYT Project No.1130906. E. Ramos-Moore thanks the financial support of CONICYT, FONDECYT Project No. 11121630.
Citation
Reyes Donoso, G., Walczak, M., Ramos Moore, E. and Ramos-Grez, J.A. (2017), "Towards direct metal laser fabrication of Cu-based shape memory alloys", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 329-336. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-02-2016-0017
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited