The Open Medical Devices Journal
2010, 2 : 49-50Published online 2010 January 19. DOI: 10.2174/18751814010020200049
Publisher ID: TOMDJ-2-49
Book Review on “Thin Film Shape Memory Alloys-Fundamentals and Device Applications”
Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
ABSTRACT
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are amazing materials that, after being severely deformed, can spontaneously return to their original shape upon heating. These materials possess a number of desirable properties, namely, high actuation power or force, large recovery strain, pseudoelasticity (or superelasticity), good chemical resistance and biocompatibility, etc. These unique features have attracted much attention toward the potential applications of SMAs for military, medical, safety, and robotics applications. More recently, thin film SMAs have been recognized as a new type of promising and high performance material for micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and biological applications.