Synthesis and properties of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy strips prepared via hot densification rolling of powder preforms

Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy strips were successfully prepared by a powder metallurgy route consisting of preparing powder preforms from premixed Cu, Al and Ni powders by cold compaction, stepwise sintering in the range 873–1273 K, followed by unsheathed multipass hot rolling at 1273 K in protective atmosphere. The densification behaviour of the sintered powder preforms during hot rolling has been discussed. Homogenisation of the hot rolled strips was carried out at 1173 K for 4 h. It has been shown that the finished Cu–Al–Ni alloy strip consisted of self-accommodated plates of b’ and c’ martensites together with a small amount of nanocrystalline Cu9Al4 phase. The finished hot rolled Cu–Al–Ni strips had fracture strength of 476 MPa, coupled with 2.5% elongation. The shape memory tests showed almost 100% recovery after 10 thermomechanical cycles in the hot rolled strips at 1 and 2% applied prestrain.