Automotive applications of thermal shape memory alloys

The very high specific work load of thermal shape memory alloys qualifies the material to be a suitable alternative of conventional drives. Especially the automotive industry is highly interested in drive concepts for substituting electromechanical drives. In modern cars more than fifty drives are applied for several tasks like adjusting headlights, mirrors, flaps or to open/close doors, petrol caps and so on. Due to the increasing number of such mechatronic components the automotive manufacturer are getting serious problems with the increasing weight, the increasing costs and to provide the needed cross sections for these components. A suitable option to overcome this problem is using the shape memory technology to realise significantly smaller, lighter and cheaper drives. While it is never easy to establish a new technology at a market, the special demands of the automotive industry make it even more complicated. However, the benefit of the technology compared to electromechanical drives seems to be enormous. Here we present the positive aspects but also the challenges to be considered before a comprehensive market acceptance of thermal shape memory alloys in automotive applications can be expected. Starting at the design of actuators made of the semi-finished material, the specific advantages and disadvantages of the technology are figured out. The potential of shape memory actuators are illustrated on several exemplarily applications. The actual as well as the estimated developments in the future will be discussed further.