Actuators based on composite material with shape-memory effect

A new scheme of composite functional material based on an alloy exhibiting a shape-memory effect (SME) is proposed. The scheme provides for a giant reversible bending deformation with the use of only “one-way”-SME alloy. An experiment was performed with the use of actuator models manufactured by gluing together the rapidly quenched ribbons and electroplating the pseudoplastically predeformed ribbons of the alloy with nickel. It is shown that the theoretical estimates of the bending moment developed by the actuator and of the reversible deformations of the actuator are in good agreement with the results of the model experiments. The prospects for the use of the new scheme in micro- and nanomechanics are considered. Actuators with record small overall dimensions have been manufactured by the focused ion-beam technique.