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Mechanical Response and Functional Performance of Heat-Treated LPBF NiTi Shape Memory Alloys
Jerzy Ratajski1, Błażej Bałasz1, Agnieszka Peła1
1Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Solution treatment and aging significantly alter NiTi alloy performance produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). These treatments control deformation mechanisms and phase transformations, enabling tailored functional properties for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) alloys are crucial for applications requiring shape memory and superelasticity.
- Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) offers a novel route for fabricating complex NiTi components.
- Understanding post-processing effects on LPBF NiTi is vital for performance optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of solution treatment and aging on NiTi alloys fabricated via LPBF.
- To correlate microstructural evolution and phase transformations with mechanical behavior.
- To establish a framework for tailoring LPBF NiTi for specific functional applications.
Main Methods:
- Tensile testing at room temperature (RT) and low temperature (LT).
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermodynamic analysis.
- X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for microstructural characterization.
Main Results:
- As-fabricated (AF) NiTi exhibits twinning and martensitic plasticity with suppressed stress-induced martensite (SIM).
- Solution treatment (ST) restores reversible SIM and partial recoverability.
- Aging (A1h, A20h) induces Ni4Ti3 precipitation, stabilizing martensite and causing irreversible deformation.
Conclusions:
- A functional continuum from recoverable to dissipative and irreversible behavior is demonstrated based on post-processing.
- Microstructural control via solution treatment and aging is key to tailoring LPBF NiTi properties.
- This research provides a mechanistic understanding for designing NiTi components for actuators and energy management systems.
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