Preparation of a smart composite material with TiNiCu shape memory particulates in an aluminium matrix

A smart composite material with aluminium matrix and Ti50Ni25Cu25 shape memory alloy particles was developed. The shape memory alloy particles were prepared by hydrogenating-ball milling and dehydrogenating, and the mixture of the shape memory alloy particles and the aluminium powders were consolidated via powder metallurgy. The structures and the martensitic transformations in the TiNiCu alloy, TiNiCu particles and the aluminium matrix composite were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and electron scanning microscopy. The results revealed that the TiNiCu particles and the composite show reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformations as in the bulk material. The preliminary results indicate that the shape memory alloy composite may be a promising smart composite with native sensing, high damping capacity and adaptive performances.