Self-healing alloys increase the quality of construction work

When your eyeglass frame is bent, it will be very difficult to bring it back to its original shape. However, if your glasses are made from this new self-shaping alloy, you will not need to worry, because by simply placing your glasses in hot water, it will return to its original shape. New research has produced materials that could be useful in the construction industry.

SMA alloys improve the quality of construction

Researchers at the Bergakademie Freiberg Technical University in Germany have conducted experiments in which SMA shaped alloys are forged to temperatures of 1,1500 degrees Celsius. SMA alloys can return to their original shape after being severe deformation naturally or after use of heat. This useful material is not only used for frames but also for technical applications such as thermostats and actuators. Other applications in the construction industry such as bridge reinforcement.

If reinforced concrete beams are cast with bars made of SMA material, then they can be 'activated' through thermal applications. To reinforce the bridge, it is necessary to create the required force on the simple SMA bars by heating them by passing an electric current through them.

Nickel-titanium alloys are used as frameworks not suitable for use in the construction industry. The iron-based SMA material is useful in the construction of raw materials and low production costs. However, a problem is also a major obstacle due to the activation of the temperature increase to 4000 degrees C, for the sensitive materials such as concrete, mortar heat is too high. In a new study, scientists have released a ferro-manganese-silicon SMA type membrane , which is activated at a temperature of 1600 degrees Celsius, suitable for concrete.