Enhanced shape memory and superelasticity in small-volume ceramics: a perspective on the controlling factors

Shape memory ceramics show potential for energy damping and actuation applications. In particular, small-scale structures of zirconia-based ceramics demonstrate significantly enhanced shape memory and superelastic properties compared with their bulk counterparts, mainly because an oligocrystalline o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaomei, Du, Zehui, Schuh, Christopher A., Gan, Chee Lip
Other Authors: School of Materials Science & Engineering
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/88580
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/44667
Description
Summary:Shape memory ceramics show potential for energy damping and actuation applications. In particular, small-scale structures of zirconia-based ceramics demonstrate significantly enhanced shape memory and superelastic properties compared with their bulk counterparts, mainly because an oligocrystalline or single-crystal microscale structure reduces mismatch stresses amongst grains. In this Prospective article, we review recent experiments that explore the shape memory properties of small-scale zirconia-based ceramics, including the effects of composition, sample and grain size, and cyclic loading. These factors are reviewed with an eye toward rendering shape memory ceramics more useful in future applications.