NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) are used in a broad range of biomedical applications because of their unique properties including biocompatibility and high corrosion and wear resistance as well as functional properties such as superelasticity and the shape memory effect. The combination of SMAs and additive manufacturing can lead to revolutionary changes to the uses of SMAs in the biomedical industry. This article discusses the potential biomedical applications of NiTi that benefit from the AM process. We share the lessons learned in processing NiTi alloys with a focus on the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique. The manufacturability, build quality, stable phases and transformation temperatures, microstructure, thermomechanical properties, microstructure tailoring, and functional properties of NiTi alloys produced via AM processing are reviewed. Current challenges such as expanding the process window, controlling the chemistry, and the performance and property responses are discussed, and potential opportunities including alloy design are discussed.
Outstanding ZT values registered on single crystals recently renewed the interest of thermoelectric community for SeSn compound. Owing to the strong anisotropy of the phenomenon, so far only single crystals proved to be the suitable for its application. Here we present the production and the characterization of bulk polycrystalline materials processed by open die pressing, aimed at reducing the gap with single crystal materials by taking advantage from the highly texture degree derived by the processing and by the improved phonon scattering promoted by grain boundaries. The resulting bulks display good compaction, improved mechanical properties and strong texture of the phase. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful orientation according to the (400) cleavage plane. The structural transition responsible for the ultra-low thermal conductivity has been investigated and possible irreversible effects on the starting phase due to thermal cycling have been evaluated. Preliminary measurements of thermal conductivity are reported.
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