An Overview of the Properties and Industrial Applications of Shape Memory Alloys

In shape memory alloys (SMAs), the thermoelastic martensitic transformation between austenite and martensite phases leads to the appearance of the shape memory effect and super-elasticity. In addition, these alloys present high mechanical strength, great ductility, vibration damping property and hysteresis behavior. All of the above-mentioned properties make these alloys very promising for industrial applications and their usage leads to the increase of productivity and efficiency of the devices they pertain to. The purpose of this article is, on the one hand, to increase the awareness of R & D engineers about the existence and use of SMAs by describing and promoting the unusual properties and effects of these materials and, on the other hand, to outline some of their most promising industrial applications.