Recent developments on shape memory applications

In this paper some recently developed applications, using all kinds of possibilities that are offered by shape memory effects, will be presented. The overview is meant to show the wide range of application fields, where a series of special properties of memory metals bring huge advantages and open new ways to develop products that normally could not be made with conventional, "non-living" materials. During the last years the main issue in memory metal industries was the production of superelastic devices for medical use. However, the use in connectors, actuators and combined sensor/actuator functions in safety or control devices is also getting more important. In martensitic state memory metals are used for their extreme deformability compared to conventional metals. Temperature sensitive memory metal locking elements offer possibilities for the design of modular, adjustable devices like medical instruments and implants.