DUCTILE SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOYS OF THE CU-AR-MN SYSTEM

Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloys with enhanced ductility have been develop ed by decreasing the degree of order in the beta parent phase. Cu-Al-M n alloys with Al contents lower than 18% exhibit good ductility with e longations of about 15% and excellent cold-workability arising from a lower degree of order in the Heusler (L.21) beta 1 parent phase, witho ut any loss in their shape memory behavior. In this paper the mechanic al and shape memory characteristics, such as the cold-workability, the Ms temperatures, the shape memory effect and the pseudo-elasticity of such ductile Cu-Al-Mn alloys are presented.