Advanced Materials, Vol.20, No.2, 272-272, 2008
Superelasticity and shape memory in micro- and nanometer-scale pillars
Superelasticity and shape memory down to the nanometer scale are successfully demonstrated in micro- and nanometer-scale pillars of a Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy. Microcompression tests show superelastic behavior with recoverable strains above 5 % during more than 100 cycles. In addition, shape memory behavior with complete shape recovery at both the micro- and nanometer scales is also observed, opening the door to a new generation of smart micro and nano devices.