Shape-memory materials and hybrid composites for smart systems - Part I Shape-memory materials

A review is presented of the current research and development of shape-memo ry materials, including shape-memory alloys, shape-memory ceramics and shap e-memory polymers. The shape-memory materials exhibit some novel performanc es, such as sensoring (thermal, stress or field), large-stroke actuation, h igh damping, adaptive responses, shape memory and superelasticity capabilit y, which can be utilized in various engineering approaches to smart systems . Based on an extensive literature survey, the various shape-memory materia ls are outlined, with special attention to the recently developed or emerge d materials. The basic phenomena in the materials, that is, the stimulus-in duced phase transformations which result in the unique performance and gove rn the remarkable changes in properties of the materials, are systematicall y lineated. The remaining technical barriers, and the challenges to improve the present materials system and develop a new shape memory materials are discussed. (C) 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers.