Exploratory Development of Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy Material System for Actuators Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T012 Topic Title: Exploratory Development of Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy Material System for Actuators Proposal No.: N054-012-0100 Firm: Micro Magnetics, Inc. 421 Currant Road Fall River, Massachusetts 02720-4712 Contact: Jan Hoftun Phone: (508) 672-4665 Web Site: www.micromagnetics.com Abstract: This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating high-performance ferromagnetic shape memory composites (FSMCs) that offer fast response, compact size, reliability, and cost effectiveness for application as solid-state actuator systems for naval aircraft applications. Our approach includes two innovative ideas for improving actuator performance: the use of specially designed composite structures and the use of magnetic field gradient actuation. Unlike other ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMA), our proposed FSMCs are composed of a ferromagnetic component and a shape memory alloy (SMA) component. We propose to fabricate and explore three types of FSMCs: granular, layered, and wire composite with a rectangular cross section. As part of the project, we will design and construct an electromagnet to generate strong magnetic field gradients to exert a force on the ferromagnet (FM). Such a force will further exert a stress in the superelastic SMA which is coupled to the FM, resulting in a stress-induced martensite transformation (SIM). The martensitic phase, with its low Young's modulus, exhibits a large shape deformation under a magnetic force, enabling fast, robust, and reliable solid-state actuators. Benefits: The successful realization of the proposed ferromagnetic shape memory composites will lead to a new class of smart materials with superior characteristics to existing compounds. The technical strengths of these new materials would create corresponding commercial advantages for actuator products built with FSMCs. Specifically, we anticipate that the proposed FSMC materials will feature an increase in response speed and a reduction in cost which would allow them to find utility in a wide range of actuator applications. Such actuators would likely provide military vehicles with tactical advantages in combat and could also push the state-of-the-art in commercial aviation. In addition, there is a large untapped commercial potential for magnetic field-driven shape memory materials with the right set of characteristics. The achievement of the phase I goals would create considerable progress toward tapping the potential of this multi-billion dollar market. Return