Exploring the potential of 3D printing for shape memory alloys: a critical review

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have garnered substantial attention due to their remarkable properties and diverse applications with 3D printing techniques. The present work comprehensively reviews 3D printing applied to various SMAs. The paper examines different 3D printing techniques for SMAs and discusses the process parameters crucial for printability. The potential of 3D printing SMAs lies in the ability to create complex geometries and customized designs that are unattainable through conventional manufacturing methods. Thus, 3D printed SMAs are used across diverse fields, including biomedicine, aerospace, engineering, and consumer goods. While recognizing the notable progress achieved, the review addresses ongoing challenges such as attaining consistent microstructures, post-processing and cost-effective production. It also highlights future prospects, including the development of new SMAs compositions, and expanded applications in various other fields. As a result, the review offers a succinct and comprehensive report on SMAs using 3D printing, which could serve as a useful resource for scientists, engineers, researchers, and industry in their future work.