Functional Behavior of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Fabricated by Laser Metal Deposition

Abstract In recent years, laser metal deposition (LMD) has received significant attention for its ability to fabricate large, complex structures with high productivity and reduced costs across various industrial sectors. This technology offers new opportunities to produce large-scale, intricately shaped components at faster deposition rates. LMD shows great potential for the fabrication of smart materials, such as shape memory alloys (SMAs), enabling the development of advanced structures for novel applications. This study investigates the functional performance of NiTi shape memory alloys fabricated using LMD technology. Commercially available NiTi wire was used as feedstock to produce fully dense samples. The thermo-mechanical behavior of the printed samples was evaluated under varying operational conditions, including different loads and temperatures. Strain recovery tests, conducted at applied loads across a temperature range of 0–200 °C, demonstrated a promising shape memory effect. Furthermore, high-temperature mechanical cycling tests revealed that the additively manufactured NiTi samples exhibited stable functional behavior without the need for post-processing heat treatment. These findings suggest that LMD-fabricated NiTi components are suitable candidates for actuator applications based on the shape memory effect within the 0–200 °C temperature range.