2017 Acta Materialia Inc. In the present work, we characterize the tensile shape memory actuation behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing process. The samples were fabricated using two different sets of processing parameters. While reversible tensile shape memory behavior was observed in both cases, the samples fabricated with a shorter hatch spacing exhibited higher transformation temperatures, lower actuation strain, and lower irrecoverable strain compared to the samples fabricated with wider hatch spacing. The actuation strain and ductility of the L-PBF samples were lower than that of the conventionally manufactured NiTi SMA samples.
