RESEARCH ON SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS IN MEXICO

Shape Memory Alloys have attracted the interest of a great number of researchers in the world, and Mexico is not the exception. Research in this field started ten years ago, and is actually an active line covering the classical Cu-based and Ti-Ni alloys, but also the new Fe-based alloys. Although more basic studies have been performed at the present time, interest for applied research and technological goals is increasing. In this work we present a series of studies carried on these Shape Memory Alloys by the groups in Mexico, and explain what the interest of our groups are in the next future in this are of the Materials Science. Interdisciplinary work has been necessary in the characterization of the different alloys, and multiple techniques have been used, like Mossbauer spectroscopy, thermoelectric power, electron microscopy, ultrasound techniques, neutron and x-ray diffraction, calorimetry, among others. Collaboration With other groups in Europe and in the United States have become highly useful and productive, and some examples of such activities are also reported.