Shape‐Memory Alloys

Abstract Shape‐memory alloys are capable of undergoing reversible phase transitions as a result of temperature, pressure, or other stress‐related changes. These materials exhibit a mechanical type of shape memory called pseudoelasticity and, under certain conditions, linear superelasticity. The recoverable strain or shape is generally \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${<{\hskip-0.167em}{\hskip-0.167em}10{\%}}$\end{document} . Whereas the alloys are primarily nonferrous, some ferrous alloys also exhibit shape memory. Applications of shape‐memory alloys include those as tubes and valves in piping systems for power plants, ships, and the petroleum industry; use as explosive bolts in the aerospace and construction industry; as packaging devices for electronic materials; and as dental materials, prosthetics, and biomedical devices. Shape‐memory alloys may be found in sensors in automobiles, in consumer products, and generally in smart materials and adaptive structures.