Salient to Investors:
A new martensite metal is the prototype of a new family of smart materials that can change shape tens of thousands of times when heated and cooled without degrading, unlike existing technology.
Currently, martensite metals are made of an alloy of nickel and titanium but after repeated shape changes build up stresses inside that degrade them and eventually break them apart. The new alloy is made of zinc, gold and copper, and could be used in applications ranging from space vehicles to electronics to jet engines.
Prof Richard James said devices could convert heat to electricity directly, e.g. using the waste heat from computers and cell phones to recharge the battery and make them more efficient.
Read the full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24400101
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