A Multifunctional smart material system consists of two or more different smart material phases in the form of a hybrid system, in which every phase performs a different but necessary function. In this work, we show how thermally responsive Shape memory alloys (SMA) and Shape Memory Polymers (SMP) can be combined to form a Multifunctional Smart Material system (MSMS). The transformation temperatures M_f, M_s, A_s and A_f of SMA and the glass transition T_g for the SMP play a critical role in designing such a MSMS. We illustrate how varying the T_g of SMP between the transformation temperatures M_f and A_f of SMA results in a multi-state smart bias system with varying stiffnesses. In addition, we establish guidelines for the volume fractions of the individual constituents of such MSMSs to form "smart-bias" tools/devices. We further propose various ideas for smart devices that can operate through three temperature ranges, with one material constituent being passive and the other active at a given temperature.

Date Published: 27 March 2012
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 8341, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2012, 83411O (27 March 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.915750

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8341:
Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2012
Henry A. Sodano, Editor(s)