Magnetic Shape Memory Composites

Abstract

Magnetic shape memory composites (MSMC) are envisaged as promising materials for damping and actuation applications. MSMCs are commonly composed of a reinforcement phase (particles, fibers, powders, etc.) and a polymeric matrix. In this review, MSMCs have been divided into two main groups: (1) the magnetic shape memory reinforcement phase is incorporated into a polymeric matrix and (2) the reinforcement phase is magnetic in nature and the matrix is responsible for providing shape memory functionality. The former was initially designed to overcome the limitations of polycrystalline magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) (i.e., low induced strains) and single crystalline MSMAs (i.e., brittleness and high production costs) and to obtain improved performance by embedding single crystalline or oligocrystalline particles into a polymeric matrix. In the latter, inductive heating is achieved by embedding a ferromagnetic phase in shape memory polymeric (SMP) matrices. Remotely heated shape memory materials are very appealing for various applications fields. Herein, the most common synthesis approaches utilized to fabricate MSMCs and the main results achieved so far are reported.