Low cost Fe-Mn-Si based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA) with good workability, machinability and weldability have been drawing much attention during the last two decades due to their potential application in engineering. Hitherto, two typical groups of Fe–Mn–Si SMAs, namely, Fe–28Mn–6Si–5Cr with a fairly good shape memory effect (SME) but poor corrosion resistance and Fe–14Mn–5Si–9Cr–5Ni with good corrosion resistance but poor SME, have been developed. However, beyond some experimental practice, Fe-SMAs have not been utilized in the industry due to their shape recovery limit and ‘training’ treatment difficulty in applications.

The aim of this project is to develop and optimize novel Fe-Mn-Si alloys with superior shape memory properties (i.e. shape recovery, shape recovery stresses) than conventional Fe-based shape memory alloys. In addition, the shape memory effect should be achieved without “training” treatments and the transformation temperatures should be below 200°C. This requires a thorough correlation of the thermo-mechanical processes, the material’s microstructure and the shape memory properties. It is intended to apply the Fe-Mn-Si based shape memory alloys where low costs and relatively low transformation temperatures are required, e.g. in civil engineering for pre-stressed concrete structures.