2006 Volume 92 Issue 9 Pages 562-566
Fe-Mn-Si-Cr shape memory alloy (SMA) machining chips reinforced smart composites are developed. The smart composites consist of SMA machining chips and plaster matrix. Because SMA waste machining chips are used as its reinforcements, the smart material can be treated as ecomaterial. In this study, fabrication method and mechanical properties of the smart composite, which can be used in architectural and civil engineering applications, are reported. Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA machining chips are subjected to pretensile strain at room temperature, and are embedded into plaster matrix. The Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA machining chips/plaster composites are then heated up to 250°C (above As) compressive residual stress in the matrix. Three-point bending test is performed for the mechanical property characterization. To discuss fracture behavior of Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA machining chips/plaster composites, Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA coils/plaster composites using SMA fibers are also fabricated and mechanical tested as model material. SMA machining chips have the property of shape recovery regardless of its heavy deformation due to machining. Therefore, SMA machining chips are available for reinforcement material as well as SMA fiber. It is found that SMA machining chips with prestrain improve the bending strength of composite. By using the Fe-Mn-Si-Cr SMA machining chips for the reinforcement of the SMA composite, one can obtain materials for practical engineering applications at low cost.
