Effect of Cooling Rate on Microstructure, Shape Memory Effect and Mechanical Properties of Cu–13Al–5Fe High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloy Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

The cooling rate has a huge effect on the microstructure and properties of shape memory alloys. In this work, taking Cu–13Al–5Fe high-temperature shape memory alloy as an example, the effects of cooling rate on the microstructure, shape memory effect and mechanical properties were studied. The results show that the alloy has good properties in the water-cooled condition. When the alloy under water-cooling state is deformed at room-temperature, the recovery strain is as high as 4.72%, and the phase transition temperature exceeds 357 ℃. Moreover, the ratio of temperature to recovery strain is higher significantly than that of other reported shape memory alloys. This class of Cu–13Al–5Fe alloy may be used as high-temperature shape memory materials with high and wide working temperature range as high-sensitive driver or detector.