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Frontiers of Engineering Reports on Leading-Edge Engineering from the 2004 NAE Symposium on Frontiers of Engineering (2005) / Chapter Skim
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Thin-Film Active Materials--Greg P. Carman
Pages 41-46

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 41...
... Some physical-coupling phenomena that occur at small scales do not occur in bulk active materials. These unique phenomena include atomic coupling at the nanoscale regime and increased surface area-to-volume ratios, which could lead to the development of structures that were previously unimaginable.
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From page 42...
... This somewhat magical behavior is simply a phase transformation to a specific crystallographic arrangement resulting in "shape memory." This process, which converts thermal energy into mechanical energy, is used in a wide range of applications, including vascular stents (biocompatible) , electrical connectors, satellite release bolts, and coffeepot thermostats.
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From page 43...
... 43 c f system. NiTi ab de thin-film a for cycle Heating/cooling 1 FIGURE
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From page 44...
... Another future application might be for small-scale systems to remove, or possibly prevent, blood clots, thereby preventing catastrophic strokes. In the more distant future, even-smaller-scale systems may interact and join together to form solid structures, similar to a fluid liquid that becomes a solid, morphing into different defined shapes.
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From page 45...
... 1990. Development of Micro Actuator Using Shape Memory Alloy Thin Film.
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Key Terms

  • thin film
  • shape memory
  • austenite phase
  • mechanical energy
  • memory alloy

  • bulk materials
  • bulk active
  • martensite phase
  • actuator using
  • magnetostrictive materials

  • heart valve
  • coffeepot thermostats
  • linear actuator
  • thereby preventing
  • unique phenomena

  • using thin
  • distant future
  • substantially larger
  • energy coupling
  • original straight

  • solidphase transformation
  • exchange coupling
  • tini shape
  • unique property
  • including vascular

  • solid structures
  • recognized active
  • niti wire
  • aerospace division
  • possibly prevent


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