[Ar.Axel Ritter]

Shape-changing smart materials

The currently available shape-changing materials can be differentiated according to their triggering stimuli as follows

PHOTOSTRICTIVE SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of light (electromagnetic energy).

THERMOSTRICTIVE SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of temperature (thermal energy).

PIEZOELECTRIC SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of pressure or tension (mechanical energy).

ElECTROACTIVE SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of an electric field (electrical energy).

MAGNETOSTRICTIVE SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of a magnetic field (magnetic energy).

CHEMOSTRICTIVE SMART MATERIALS
Excited by the effect of a chemical environment (chemical energy).