Structure-properties relationship in smart Cu-Al-Ag shape memory alloys with high thermoelastic martensitic transformation temperature

Abstract

New shape memory alloys have been developed in the last few years with high martensitic transformation temperatures. However, the highest martensitic transformation temperatures are lower than 200°C and they are achieved with very complex alloys. New Cu-Al-Ag shape memory alloys have been developed with martensitic transformation temperatures ranging from 250 to 400°C. It is really interesting to increase the knowledge of the phase stability behaviour when cycling the alloy above or below the martensitic transformation temperature because of the high temperatures involved. Two Cu-Al-Ag shape memory alloys with very different composition have been thermal cycled in a DSC following the amount of energy release during the forward and reverse transformation and the changes of the martensitic transformation temperatures in order to follow the phase changes that takes place during cycling.