This book is a result of contributions of experts from international scientific community working in different aspects of shape memory alloys (SMAs) and reports on the state-of-the-art research and development findings on this topic through original and innovative research studies. Through its five chapters, the reader will have access to works related to ferromagnetic SMAs, while it introduces some specific applications like development of faster SMA actuators and application of nanostructural SMAs in medical devices. The book contains up-to-date publications of leading experts, and the edition is intended to furnish valuable recent information to the professionals involved in shape memory alloys analysis and applications. The text is addressed not only to researchers but also to professional engineers, students, and other experts in a variety of disciplines, both academic and industrial, seeking to gain a better understanding of what has been done in the field recently and what kind of open problems are in this area.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the second International Conference on Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys (ICFSMA 2009), held at the University of Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain, July 1-3, 2009

Overview of recent achievements, describing the microactuator development of microvalves and liner actuators comprehensively from concept through prototype. Further key aspects included are three-dimensional models for handling complex SMA actuator geometries and coupled simulation routines that take multifunctional properties into account. Mechanical and thermal optimization criteria are introduced for actuator design, allowing an optimum use of the shape memory effect. It is shown that some of the prototypes presented, e.g. SMA microgrippers, already outperform conventional components.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from International Conference on Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys, Held at S.N.Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, India, November 14-16, 2007

Nanoscale Magnetic Materials and Applications covers exciting new developments in the field of advanced magnetic materials. Readers will find valuable reviews of the current experimental and theoretical work on novel magnetic structures, nanocomposite magnets, spintronic materials, domain structure and domain-wall motion, in addition to nanoparticles and patterned magnetic recording media. Cutting-edge applications in the field are described by leading experts from academic and industrial communities. These include new devices based on domain wall motion, magnetic sensors derived from both giant and tunneling magnetoresistance, thin film devices in micro-electromechanical systems, and nanoparticle applications in biomedicine. In addition to providing an introduction to the advances in magnetic materials and applications at the nanoscale, this volume also presents emerging materials and phenomena, such as magnetocaloric and ferromagnetic shape memory materials, which motivate future development in this exciting field. Nanoscale Magnetic Materials and Applications also features a foreword written by Peter Grünberg, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Volume 13 of the Handbook of Magnetic Materials, as the preceding volumes, has a dual purpose. As a textbook it is intended to be of assistance to those who wish to be introduced to a given topic in the field of magnetism without the need to read the vast amount of literature published. As a work of reference it is intended for scientists active in magnetism research. To this dual purpose, Volume 13 of the Handbook is composed of topical review articles written by leading authorities. In each of these articles an extensive description is given in graphical as well as in tabular form, much emphasis being placed on the discussion of the experimental material in the framework of physics, chemistry and material science. In Chapter 1 of this volume a general review of the experimental work on interlayer exchange coupling is presented along with a discussion of the current understanding of this field. There exists an extensive amount of scientific efforts devoted to 4f and 5f systems, including experimental and theoretical, as well as basic and applied research. Chapter 2 aims at reviewing a part of these efforts from the viewpoint of microscopic theory. Special attention is paid to the many new developments in the field. One of the intentions is to bring to the fore the darker areas of DFT theory applications. A review of novel experimental results and first-principle energy-band calculations of MOKE spectra will be presented in Chapter 3. Conventional co-operative phenomena, such as long-range order and elementary excitation, have realisations in nonmagnetic situations. This applies also to the phenomena of geometrical frustration. In Chapter 4 this topic is addressed by developing the basic principles underlying the magnetic phenomena.

This book presents current research on advanced magnetic materials and multifunctional composites. Recent advances in technology and engineering have resulted from the development of advanced magnetic materials with improved functional magnetic and magneto-transport properties. Certain industrial sectors, such as magnetic sensors, microelectronics, and security, demand cost-effective materials with reduced dimensionality and desirable magnetic properties such as enhanced magnetic softness, giant magnetic field sensitivity, and large magnetocaloric effect. Expert chapters present the most up-to-date information on the fabrication process, processing, tailoring of properties, and applications of different families of modern functional materials for advanced smart applications. Topics covered include novel magnetic materials and applications; amorphous and nanocrystalline magnetic materials and applications; hard magnetic materials; magnetic shape memory alloys; and magnetic oxides. The book's highly interdisciplinary and forward-looking approach will benefit the scientific community, particularly researchers and advanced graduate students working in the field of advanced magnetic materials, composites, and high-performance sensor and microwave devices.