Characterization of Cu-Al-Mn Shape Memory Alloy
Cu-based shape memory alloys have a big commercial potential due to their low cost and excellent properties. Addition of manganese to binary Cu-Al alloy stabilize -phase region and widen it to lower aluminium content and lower temperatures. Further, Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloys with low degree of order of the -phase show high ductility. In this paper, experimental results on the microstructure of as-cast as well as heat-treated and water quenched Cu-16 at.% Al-(6-10 at.%)Mn alloy, its transition temperatures, hardness and damping properties are presented and discussed. Martensitic structure was obtained in heat-treated and quenched alloy that shows relatively low transition temperature and small hysteresis.