Microstructure and Properties of Low Al Content Cu-Al-Cr and Cu-Al-Cr-Mn Shape Memory Alloys Produced by Arc Melting

Abstract

In this study, low Al content (<5 at.%) Cu-Al-Cr and Cu-Al-Cr-Mn shape memory alloys (SMAs) were fabricated by using the arc melting technique, which can be produced as high-purity alloys with various compositions. Due to the low aluminum content, the phase transformation behavior and shape memory properties of these alloys have not been sufficiently investigated in the literature. This study aimed to characterize the microstructure, phase transformation temperatures, and shape memory properties of the arc-melted CuAlCr and CuAlCrMn alloys and compare them with the data in the literature. The effect of Mn addition and arc melting process on the performance of Cu-Al-Cr SMAs was also discussed. The results showed that the arc-melted alloys had a homogeneous microstructure and that Cr addition improved the phase transformation temperatures and shape memory properties. Mn addition was found to lower the phase transformation temperatures but increase the shape memory properties.