Perspective in Development of Shape Memory Materials Associated with Martensitic Transformation

By consideration of the characteristics of martensitic transformation and the derivation from the application of the group theory to martensitic transformation, it may be concluded that the shape memory effect (SME) can be attained in materials through a martensitic transformation and its reverse transformation. only when there forms single or nearly single variant of martensite, with an absence of the factors causing the generation of the resistance against SME. on this principle, various shape memory materials including nonferrous alloys. iron-based alloys and ceramics containjng zirconia are expected to be further developed. A criterion for thermoelastic martensitic transformation is presented, Factors which may act as the resistance against SME in various materials are briefly described

Two-Way 4D Printing： A Review on the Reversibility of 3D-Printed Shape Memory Materials

The rapid development of additive manufacturing and advances in shape memory materials have fueled the progress of four-dimensional （4D） printing. With the right external stimulus, the need for human interaction, sensors, and batteries will be eliminated, and by using additive manufacturing, more complex devices and parts can be produced. With the current understanding of shape memory mechanisms and with improved design for additive manufacturing, reversibility in 4D printing has recently been proven to be feasible. Conventional one-way 4D printing requires human interaction in the programming （or shapesetting） phase, but reversible 4D printing, or two-way 4D printing, will fully eliminate the need for human interference, as the programming stage is replaced with another stimulus. This allows reversible 4D printed parts to be fully dependent on external stimuli; parts can also be potentially reused after every recovery, or even used in continuous cycles-an aspect that carries industrial appeal. This paper presents a review on the mechanisms of shape memory materials that have led to 4D printing, current findings regarding 4D printing in alloys and polymers, and their respective limitations. The reversibility of shape memory materials and their feasibility to be fabricated using three-dimensional （3D） printing are summarized and critically analyzed. For reversible 4D printing, the methods of 3D printing, mechanisms used for actuation, and strategies to achieve reversibility are also highlighted. Finally, prospective future research directions in reversible 4D printing are suggested.

STUDY OF CONSTITUTIVE RELATIONS FOR PSEUDO-ELASTICITY AND SHAPE MEMORY BEHAVIOR

Constitutive relations are given for the description of the deformation behavior of shape memory materials. The deformation is the superposition of the elastic, the thermal and the phase transformation deformation caused by the transformation from one to the other among the high temperature phase, the low temperature phase and the stress induced phase. The phase transformation is controlled by the driving force, i.e., the Gibbs energy difference between the phases.

Investigations of a nanostructured FeMnSi shape memory alloy produced via severe plastic deformation

Low-cost iron-based shape memory alloys（SMAs） show great potential for engineering applications. The developments of new processing techniques have recently enabled the production of nanocrystalline materials with improved properties. These developments have opened avenues for newer applications for SMAs. The influence of severe plastic deformation induced by the high-speed high-pressure torsion（HSHPT） process on the microstructural evolution of an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr alloy was investigated. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of the alloy revealed the existence of nanoscale grains with an abundance of stacking faults. The high density of dislocations characteristic of severe plastic deformation was not observed in this alloy. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of ε-martensite with an HCP crystal structure and γ-phase with an FCC structure.

Formation mechanism of inherent spatial heterogeneity of microstructure and mechanical properties of NiTi SMA prepared by laser directed energy deposition

Ni51Ti49 at.%bulk was additively manufactured by laser-directed energy deposition(DED)to reveal the microstructure evolution,phase distribution,and mechanical properties.It is found that the localized remelting,reheating,and heat accumulation during DED leads to the spatial heterogeneous distribution of columnar crystal and equiaxed crystal,a gradient distribution of Ni4Ti3 precipitates along the building direction,and preferential formation of Ni4Ti3 precipitates in the columnar zone.The austenite transformation finish temperature(Af)varies from-12.65℃(Z=33 mm)to 60.35℃(Z=10 mm),corresponding to tensile yield strength(σ0.2)changed from 120±30 MPa to 570±20 MPa,and functional properties changed from shape memory effect to superelasticity at room temperature.The sample in the Z=20.4 mm height has the best plasticity of 9.6%and the best recoverable strain of 4.2%.This work provided insights and guidelines for the spatial characterization of DEDed NiTi.

Preparation of multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced TiNi matrix composites from elemental powders by spark plasma sintering

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced TiNi matrix composites were synthesized by spark plasma sintering (SPS) employing elemental powders.The phase structure,morphology and transformation behaviors were studied.It was found that thermoelastic martensitic transformation be-haviors could be observed from the samples sintered above 800 ℃ even with a short sintering time (5min),and the transformation tempera-tures gradually increased with increasing sintering temperature because of more Ti-rich TiNi phase formation.Although decreasing the sin-tering temperature and time to 700 ℃ and 5min could not protect defective MWCNTs from reacting with Ti,still-perfect MWCNTs re-mained in the specimens sintered at 900 ℃.This method is expected to supply a basis for preparing CNT-reinforced TiNi composites.

Photodirected 2D-to-3D morphing structures of shape memory polycaprolactone/W_(18)O_(49) nanowires composite film

Shape memory materials possess programmable complex and large deformations towards external stimuli,which are particularly essential for their potential applications.For the transformation of planar two-dimensional(2D)structures into complex 3D structures,the design of asymmetric or bilayer thin sheets is usually required.In this paper,we propose a facile strategy to achieve these complex 3D structures that can be transformed to various pre-determined shapes sequentially by laser-triggered site-specific deformations.The response of shape memory polycaprolactone(PCL)to laser is realized by physically dopingW18O49 nanowires into the cross-linked PCL diacrylate matrix.When irradiated by 98 mW cm^(−2)laser,the pre-stretched PCL/W_(18)O_(49)film shows an out-of-plane bending deformation due to the temperature gradient and single-domain orientation on the thickness between the upper layer and lower layer.The bending rates and amplitudes of the film can be tailored by adjusting the parameters of irradiation time,the film thickness as well as the pre-stretch strain.Remarkably,the pre-stretched film can automatically bend in more intricate complex deformations by integration with kirigami cuts in planar.Finally,we demonstrate that by activating the dynamic transesterification reaction within the same film,it can also achieve the 2D-to-3D transformations.With these decent features,this kind of novel PCL//W_(18)O_(49)film shows great potential in the field of biomedical devices or soft robotics.

Improving interface adhesion in TiNi wire/shape memory epoxy composites using carbon nanotubes

In order to increase both the interfacial strength and interphase region strength between TiNi wires and shape memory epoxy,a novel interface structure including aminated CNTs was designed.The morphology shows that after electroplating and etching,continuous and homogeneous concave-convex layers form on the surface of astreated TiNi wires,meanwhile aminated CNTs were planted on the surface which could react with shape memory epoxy at the interface region.The interfacial shear strength increases first with the CNT content rising but then a dramatic drop happens,and the maximum is obtained at CNT content of 0.6 g·L^(-1),which is about twice the result of acid etching TiNi wires.

Bioinspired Adaptive Gel Materials with Synergistic Heterostructures

In nature, many biological soft tissues with synergistic heterostructures, such as sea cucumbers, skeletal muscles and cartilages, exhibit high functionality to adapt to complex environments. In artificial soft materials, hydrogels are similar to biological soft tissues due to the unique integration of ＂soft and wet＂ properties and elastic characteristics. However, currently hydrogel materials lack their necessary adaptability, including narrow working temperature windows and uncontrollable mechanics, thus restrict their engineering application in complex environments. Inspired by abovementionedbiological soft tissues, researchers have increasingly developed heterostructural gel materials as functional soft materials with high adaptability to various mechanical and environmental conditions. This article summarizes our recent work on high-performance adaptive gel materials with synergistic heterostructures, including the critical design criteria and the state-of-the-art fabrication strategies of our gel materials. The functional adaptation properties of these heterostructural gel materials are also presented in details, including temperature, wettability, mechanical and shape adaption.