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

By hybridizing or incorporating shape-memory materials with other functiona l materials or structural materials, smart composites can be fabricated whi ch may utilize the unique functions or properties, of the individual bulk m aterials to achieve multiple responses and optimal properties, or, to tune their properties to adapt to environmental changes. A variety of shape-memo ry hybrid composites have been designed and manufactured, with shape-memory elements being either the matrix or the reinforcement. The hybrid composit es provide tremendous potential for creating new paradigms for material-str uctural interactions and demonstrate varying success in many engineering ap plications. This review, from the standpoint of materials science, will giv e a state-of-the-art survey on the various shape-memory hybrid smart compos ites developed during the last decade. Emphasis is placed on the design, fa brication, characterization and performance of fibre-reinforced, particle-r einforced and multi-layered thin-film shape-memory composites. (C) 1998 Klu wer Academic Publishers.