Undergraduate Research Opportunities

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Advancing Design Science with Additive Manufacturing of Shape Memory Alloys for Extreme Environments

Project Description:

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are fascinating materials that can “remember” their original shape after deformation through a reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformation. This produces the shape memory effect (SME) when activated by heat or superelasticity (SE) when triggered by stress. Achieving reliable functional performance requires careful control of composition, microstructure, and processing route—none of which are trivial. Our project investigates NiTi alloys fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM), with an emphasis on Ti-rich compositions where microstructural evolution plays a decisive role. In these alloys, Ti2Ni precipitates and oxygen-bearing phases strongly influence martensitic transformation behavior. Even fractions of an atomic percent change in Ni content can dramatically shift transformation temperatures and alter hysteresis. Heat treatment, oxygen pickup, and thermomechanical cycling further modify precipitate morphology, twin structures, and dislocation networks, all of which govern transformation stability and functional fatigue resistance. Additive manufacturing introduces additional complexity, as rapid solidification, segregation, and oxygen incorporation uniquely tailor local Ni/Ti ratios and oxide distributions. Through systematic thermomechanical testing, this project maps the intricate structure–property–performance relationships that underpin SME reliability in AM-fabricated NiTi. Beyond producing a fundamental dataset, the work provides a framework for designing alloys with predictable functional behavior—training students to advance next-generation actuation materials for Navy-relevant extreme environments.

Faculty Name and Email:

Elzbieta Sikora exs36@psu.edu

Research Area(s):

environmental degradation of engineering materials

Number of Available Positions:

1

Project Start Date:

Summer 2026

Remote or In-Person or Hybrid?

In-person (lab-based)

Estimated Time Commitment:

6

Potential for Summer Research Continuation:

Yes

Potential for Research Credit (496/497) or Independent Study:

Maybe / to be discussed

Required Courses or Skills:

ESC 414M, MATSE 514

Preferred Student Background:

Environmental impact assessment, materials characterization, materials science, additive manufacturing