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Herein the corrosion behavior of Fe–Mn–Al–Ni shape memory alloys characterized by different microstructures in a 5.0 wt% NaCl solution is investigated. Open circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarisation tests are conducted. Generally, Fe–Mn–Al–Ni shows corrosion properties being similar to pure iron. However, the polarization curves of single crystals indicate the presence of an unstable passive system. The corrosion damage is analyzed by means of optical microscopy and electron microscopy. It is revealed that polycrystalline samples consisting of two different phases induced by heat treatment, i.e., α‐phase and γ‐phase or β‐Mn phase and γ‐phase, are suffering a selective corrosion attack of the α‐phase and β‐Mn–phase, respectively. On the contrary, the single crystal seems to form a protective layer on the surface. Upon presence of stress‐induced martensite, a selective corrosion attack of γ′–martensite is observed.

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Prestressing of concrete is a commonly used technique in civil engineering to achieve long spans, reduced structural thicknesses, and resource savings. However, in terms of application, complex tensioning devices are necessary, and prestress losses due to shrinkage and creep of the concrete are unfavourable in terms of sustainability. In this work, a prestressing method using novel Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloy rebars as a tensioning system in UHPC is investigated. A generated stress of about 130 MPa was measured for the shape memory alloy rebars. For the application in UHPC, the rebars are prestrained prior to the manufacturing process of the concrete samples. After sufficient hardening of the concrete, the specimens are heated inside an oven to activate the shape memory effect and, thus, to introduce the prestress into the surrounding UHPC. It is clearly shown that an improvement in maximum flexural strength and rigidity is achieved due to the thermal activation of the shape memory alloy rebars compared to non-activated rebars. Future research will have to focus on the design of the shape memory alloy rebars in relation to construction applications and the investigation of the long-term performance of the prestressing system.

The present study investigates the corrosion behavior of a Fe–Mn–Al–Ni–Cr shape memory alloy in a 5.0 wt% NaCl solution in combination with the functional properties. In a single crystalline condition, the investigated alloy shows a superior superelastic response with a maximum recovery strain of 5.2%. Furthermore, the results of the potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy show that the addition of chromium generally improves corrosion resistance by increasing the resistance to localized corrosion. The single crystalline condition, which is characterized by an austenitic matrix and scattered martensite plates, shows an enhanced, however, still unstable passive behavior due to the formation of corrosion pits along the martensite plates.

The influence of reinforcement, especially fibre reinforcement in ultra‐high performance concrete is strongly dependent on the bonding (adhesive, shear and friction bond) between metallic surface and cementitious matrix. As usually straight fibres are used for fibre reinforcement and, thus, no significant mechanical bonding is existent, the adhesive bond is particularly important. Previous studies stated that the adhesive bonding behaviour between metallic materials and cementitious matrix strongly depends on the chemical composition of metallic alloys. Therefore, in order to address this topic, the present study investigates the growth of C‐S‐H phases on stainless steel and on cold drawn steel. This growth process was realised by a surface treatment of the metallic alloys using a synthetically manufactured Tricalciumsilicate (C3S) powder diluted in water. After defined times of the C3S treatment the process is stopped to get a time dependent growing behaviour of the cementitious phases. Light microscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy was used in order to investigate the surfaces following the application of the C3S. The results reveal that the growth of C‐S‐H phases is more dependent on the metallic surface and its topography than on the alloy composition.

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